75 



Tropics, UvSed as a vegetable, eaten cooked, and as an article of 



food it is indispensable to the natives of the countries whore 

 grown . 



1. 1894, "Species and Principal Varieties of Alusa," pp. 

 229-314 (reprinted as Additional Series VI. ii) ; 1908, " Banana 

 Cultivation in Egypt/* pp. 102-105; 1913, " Varieties of Plan- 

 tains and Bananas Cultivated in the Seychelles," pp. 229-231. 



Zingiber officinale, Rose; Ginger. 



A perennial about 2 ft. high, cultivated in Asia, West Afrit a 

 Sierra Leone, &c, in the West Indies — Jamaica especially, &c, 

 for the rhizomes, dried for use as a spice and the green rhizome 

 is preserved in syrup. The imports of ginger into the United 

 Kingdom come chiefly from British India (23359), British West 

 Indies (12311), Sierra Leone (6767), Japan (1146), other Foreign 

 Countries (283) and other British Possessions (122), not enume- 

 rated to a total of 43,988 centals in 1913. The rhizomes of 

 Alyinia nutans, Rose, are sometimes used in India as a substi- 

 tute for the true ginger. 



1. 1892, "Chinese Ginger," pp. 16-20; "Fiji Ginger," 

 pp. 77-81. 



Maranta arundinacea, Linit. ; Arrowroot. 



A perennial, 2 ft. high and upwards, native of Tropical 

 America, Brazil and West Indies. Cultivated for the starch 

 obtained from the rhizomes, produced largely in Bermuda and 

 St. Vincent. " Queensland Arrowroot " is the starch obtained 

 from the tuberous roots of Carina edulis, Ker. 



The imported Arrowroot from the British West Indies 

 amounted in 1913 to 40,160, and from other British Possessions 

 615 centals. 



The rhizomes of "Turmeric" (Curcuma longa, Linn.), culti- 

 vated in India, East Indies, Ceylon, &c, are used largely as a 

 condiment in India and in the preparation of " Currv Powder." 

 The tubers of " Topee Tamboo " or " Tokee Tambo " (Calathea 

 Allouya, Lindl.j, are used as food in Trinidad and Dominica; 

 the plant is widely distributed in Tropical America. 



I. 1892, " Allouya Tubers (Calathea Allouya)," pp. 244-245; 

 1893, "St. Vincent Arrowroot," pp. 191-204,' 360-361: 1893, 

 "Arrowroot (Canna edulis)," pp. 331-333: 1898, "Bermuda 

 Arrowroot," pp. 50-51. 



Ananas sativus, Schult. f. ; Pine Apple. 



An annual plant, perennial by suckering freely, commonly 

 cultivated in the Tropics, and to a small extent in hot-houses 

 at home. Fresh fruit is largely imported from the Azores, 

 grown under glass, and from TenerifFe; preserved fruit from 

 Siam, Hawaii, Florida, Straits Settlements, Australia, &c, 

 302,086 centals being imported in 1913. 



Puya edulis, Morren, yields a starch from the leaves, reported 

 to have saved the lives of thousands of Indians in Brazil during 

 famine (K.B., 1889, p. 20). 



