MARANTACEX.—MUSACEM. 695 
and stomachie internally, and externally as a rubefacient.—Z. Cassuwmunar 
is supposed by some to be the plant from which Cassumunar root is obtained. 
(See Curcuma.) 
Order 2. MARANTACEH or CANNACE®, the Maranta Order.— 
Character.—Herbaceous plants, without aromatic properties. 
They have a close resemblance to the Zingiberacez. Their 
distinctive characters are, in their more irregular perianth; in 
one of the lateral stamens of the inner whorl being fertile, and 
the other two abortive; in the fertile stamen having a petaloid 
filament, an entire or 2-lobed anther, one lobe of which is 
sterile, and the anther therefore 1-celled; in the style being 
petaloid or swollen ; and in the embryo not being enclosed in a 
vitellus. 
Distribution and Numbers.—-Exclusively natives of tropical 
regions. Illustrative Genera :—Maranta, Plum.; Canna, Linn. 
There are about 160 species. 
Properties and Uses.—The rhizomes of some species contain 
starch, which when extracted is extensively used for food. 
Canna.—One or more species of this genus yield ‘Tous les mois,’ a very 
pure and useful starch, although little ‘used in this country or elsewhere. 
The exact species of Canna from which this starch is obtained is not posi- 
tively known; it is said to be C. edulis, but it is just as probable to be 
derived also from C. glauca and C, Achir ras. C. lutea is stated in the ‘ Bom- 
bay Flora’ to yield * Tous les mois.’ C. indica and C. discolor also yield a 
similar starch.— C. indica.—The seeds are commonly known under the name 
of Indian Shot, from their black colour and hardness. These seeds and those 
of other species are made use of as beads. The rhizomes or tubers of some 
species are eaten asa vegetable ; they contain much starch, which, as already 
stated, resembles ‘Tous les mois.’ 
Maranta.—M. arundinacea.—The rhizomes or tubers of this plant con- 
tain a large quantity of starch, which, when extracted, constitutes West 
Indian Arrowroot, one of the purest and best known of the starches used as 
food. As this arrowroot is now obtained from M. arundinacea, which is 
cultivated for that purpose in other parts of the world besides the West Indies, 
it is best distinguished as Maranta Starch. It forms a very firm jelly, and 
is perhaps the most palatable and digestible starch known. The best arrow- 
root is the Bermuda kind, but this is becoming more scarce every year. 
The name Arrowroot is generally said to have been derived from the fact of 
the bruised rhizomes of this plant having been employed by the native 
Indians as an application to the poisoned wounds inflicted by arrows. 
Others give, however, different derivations for this name. Thus T. Greenish 
believes that it is derived from the Indian word § ara-ruta,’ a term signifying 
‘mealy root.’ The name of arrowroot is now given to various other starches 
which are used as food in this country and elsewhere. 
Order 3. Musace®, the Banana Order.—Character.— 
Herbaceous plants, often of large size. Leaves large, with parallel 
curved veins springing from the midribs (fig. 318), and long 
sheathing petioles, which together form by their union a spu- 
rious aerial stem. Flowers irregular, spathaceous. Perianth 
irregular, 6-partite, petaloid, superior, arranged in 2 whorls. 
Stamens 6, inserted upon the divisions of the perianth, some 
abortive; anthers 2-celled. Ovary inferior, 3-celled. Fruit 
