7. Zingiber.] 156. ZINGIBER AC E.E. 



most broader than the others, Avhite or almost colourless. Lip 

 shorter, wrinkled, yellowish 2-fid, -75" broad and lateral lobes large 

 oblong rounded. Stamen yellow, beak curved, as long as the anthers. 

 Seeds black polished with white aril. 



In damp shady forests. Common in Chota Xagpur ! No doubt also in forest 

 lands of Purneah, Santal Parg.. and of the Southern Area. Fl. Aug.-Sept. Fr. 

 Oct .-Nov. 



Rhizome short, deep yellow within, with fleshy roots. Stem ellipsoid in section. 

 Peduncle pubescent, sheaths not usually overlapping one another. Heads 2" or 

 more in diam. in robust plants, elongating with age and becoming acute. Bracts of 

 head usually red or becoming red with age, margined. Capsule scarlet, fleshy, 

 with about 6-10 subglobose-oblong, sometimes somewhat angled seeds in each 

 cell. 



All parts of the plant are very aromatic, but it does not appear to be used. 



This is rather a variable species, especially in size of peduncle, but usually 

 easily recognizable by the indumentum, long-peduncled heads, orbicular margined 

 bracts and cream-coloured or pale-yellow flowers with oblong not orbicular side- 

 lobes to lip. The following must, I think, be treated as a variety, though it lacks 

 the elongated peduncle of the section. The flowers of both are copiously covered 

 when dry with minute purple dots (glands ?), which are not noticeable when they 

 are fresh. 



Var. palamaunsis. 



Very aromatic with linear leaves, larger about 10" by 1-2", finely 

 acuminate, minutely white-dotted above when fresh (as in type), 

 sheaths, ligule and indumentum as in Z. casumunar. Spike very small, 

 2" long by -8" diam. only, just raised above the ground; peduncle 

 1-2" long from rootstock or side of stem but below ground, its upper 

 bracts green and clasping the base of the spike. Flowering bracts 

 red broadly obovate rounded with a membranous pubescent margin 

 and minutely apiculate, back very thinly shortly hairy. Whole 

 flower (including ovary and hypanthium) 2-3" long, white or cream- 

 coloured ; tube of hypanthium 1-5" before it becomes ventricose, 

 enclosed by an inner convolute reddish bract 1" long, which is ell.- 

 oblong, obtuse and pubescent at the tip. Calyx -G--?", spathaceous, 

 membranous, apex rounded ciliate, slightly 2-lobed, ovary silky. 

 Dorsal petal oblong-lanceolate, slightly concave and curved, but not 

 galeate, -8" by -35", 9-nerved, subacute, lateral as long linear-lanceo- 

 late, -15" broad. Lip somewhat crisped and jagged, -8-1" long, 

 midlobe -8" broad, lateral lobes -6", obliquely oblong. Stamen cream- 

 coloured, curved about three-fourths over the lip, • 12" broad near 

 base, beak 2-toothed. 



Palamau. Fl. Aug.-Sept. 



G. Z. capitatum, Roxb. 



A verj^ aromatic plant with leafy stems 3-4 ft. high with distichous 

 erecto-patent stiff linear leaves 12-18" by 1-1-5" tapering to a point, 

 more or less pubescent beneath, quite sessile on the sheath, ligule 

 very short. Head 3-5" long by 1-2" diam. terminating the stem, 

 with closely imbricate oblong, or lower ovate-oblong, green or sub- 

 sequently scarlet bracts 1 • 5" or upper 1" long, with narrow brown 

 margins. Flowers i)ale yelloAv. Petals 1". Lateral staminodes large 

 oblong obtuse adnate to lip, red. Lip orbicular emarginate, -7- -8" 

 broad. 



1144 



