6G3 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



superior, irregular, arranged in 3 whorls, each whorl composed of 

 3 pieces. Stameiis 3, distinct, 2 lateral abortive, the posterior one 

 perfect; a/i^^er 2-celled,^/a»ien^ not petaloid. Orary inferior, 

 3-celled, placentas axile ; style fihform. Fruit 1 — 3-celled, cap- 

 sular or baccate. Seeds numerous, albuminous ; embryo enclosed 

 in a vitellus. 



Distribution, ^c. — Chiefly natives of tropical regions. Ex- 

 amples : — Zingiber, Curcuma, Elettaria, Amomum, Alpinia, 

 Hitchenia. There are 31 genera, and 249 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Chiefly remarkable for the stimulant 

 aromatic properties possessed by their rhizomes and seeds, owing 

 to the presence of resin and volatile oil, hence several are used 

 as condiments, and in medicine as aromatic stimulants and sto- 

 machics. Some contain starch in large quantities, which when 

 separated is employed for food. 



Ziniiiber officinale, the Ginger Plant.— The so-called Ginger. root or Ginger of 

 the shops is the rhizome of this species. The rhizomes when very young, or 

 the young shoots of the old rhizomes, are used for preserving, and form in this 

 state Preserved Ginger. The Ganger of the shops is found in two states, one 

 being called white ginger or uncoated ginger, and the other, black ginger or 

 coated ginger. The former is prepared from the rhizomes of about a year old, 

 which when dug up, are washed, scalded, scraped, and dried. This kind is 

 generally preferred. The latter is prepared from the rhizomes in a somewhat 

 similar manner, but not submitted ta the scraping process. The essential 

 distinction between the two consists therefore, in White Ginger having its 

 epidermis removed, while in Black Ginger it remains on the surface as a 

 shrivelled membrane. Ginger is extensively used as a condiment, and also in 

 medicine as a stimulant, stomachic, and externally as a n.befacient. Zingiber 

 Cassumunar is supposed by some to be the plant from which Cassumunar 

 root is obtained, but tliere can be but little doubt that this is obtained from a 

 species of Curcuma. (See Curcwna), 



Curcuma — C. longa; thedried tubers or rhizomes of this plant constitute the 

 turmeric of the shops. Turmeric is ui^edasacondiment, as atest, and for dyeing 

 yellow. It is largely employed in India, China, &c. It forms an uigredient In 

 Curry Powder, &c. As a test to detect free alkalies, which change its colour 

 from yellow to reddish-brown, it is sometimes employed. C. angustifolia: the 

 rhizomes of this species contain a large quantity of" starch, which when ex- 

 tracted, forms East Indian Arrow ro it or Curcuma S arch. I'his kind of 

 arrow-root may be also obtained from other species of Curcuma, as C. leucor- 

 rhiza, C. rubesccns, 8fc. In its effects and uses it resembles West Indian Arrow- 

 root, but it is not so pure a starch jis it. C. Zedoaria is supposed to yield the 

 so-called Cassumunar roots, Zedoary roots, and Zerumbet roots of commerce. 

 They all possess aromatic and tonic properties. Archer believes that Ze- 

 rumbet and Cassumimar are derived from C- Zerumbet. (see Zingiber). 



Amomum. - Several species of this genus have aromatic and stimulant seeds, 

 which are used as spices, and in medicine in different parts of tlie world. The 

 only one which is much us^d in this country is the A. n/elegueta, which yields 

 the Grains of Paradise or Guinea Pepper of the shops. It is a native of the 

 Western Coast of Africa. These seeds are much employed in Africa as a spice. 

 The common notion that they nre very injurious is erront-ous. They are prui- 

 lipally employed in this country in veterinary medicine, and for giving 

 pungency to beer, wine, spirits, and vinegar. A. Cardamomum yields the 

 Iruit known as the round cardamom. The fruits of A. maximum are 

 known as Java Cardamoms, those of A. Korarima as Korarima Cardamoms, 

 those of A . globosum AS the large round and the small round Cliina Carda- 

 moms. The latter are mucl\ employed in China. Many other species have 

 iimilar properties. 



Elettaria Cardamomum, a native of Malabar, yields the fruit which con- 

 stitutes the ollicmal, small, or Malabar Cardamoms ; these are in common use 

 in medicine in this country, on account of their cordial and stimulating 

 jtroperties, and as flavouring agents. E. major yields Ceylon Cardamoms, 



