PETALOIDE^. 669 



which are much employed on the Continent. Their uses and eflfects are 

 similar, but they are of less value than the former. 



Alpinia. — The root or rhizome known as the greater or Java Galangal root. 

 appears to be derived from A. Galanga of Linnaeus ; that cnlled the lesser or 

 Chinese Galangal, from A.chinensts. The source of the light Galangal of 

 Guibourt. is altogether unknown. The Galangals have similar properties to 

 Ginger. The ovoid China Cardomum is the fruit of A. alba. Its seeds are 

 used as a condiment in China. 



Natural Order 2.51. Marantace^. — The Maranta or Arrow- 

 root Order. — Herbaceous plants, generally without aromatic 

 properties. They hare a close resemblance to Zingiberacese. 

 Their distinctive characters are, in their more irregular perianth ; 

 in one of the lateral stamens being fertile, and the other 

 two being abortive ; in the fertile stamen having a petaloid 

 filament, an entire or 2-lobed anther, one lobe of which is sterile, 

 and consequently the anther is described as 1 -celled; in the 

 style being petaloid or swollen ; and in the embryo not being 

 enclosed in a vitellus. 



Distribution, Sfc, — Exclusively natives of tropical regions. 

 Examples : — Thaha, Maranta, Calathea, Canna. There are 7 

 genera, and 160 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The rhizomes of some species contain 

 starch, which when extracted is extensively employed for 

 food. One species has been recently described as possessing 

 aromatic and stimulant properties, which is a marked departure 

 from the general properties of the order, for one of the distinctive 

 characters of this order from Zingiberacese is usually considered 

 to be the absence of aromatic qualities. 



Maranta arundinacea. — The rhizomes and tubers of this plant contain a 

 large quantity of starch, which when extracted, constitutes West Indian 

 Arrow-root, one of the purest and best known of the amyia eous substance.>> 

 used as food. It forms a very firm jelly, and is perhaps the most palat;ible and 

 digestible starch known. The name arrow-root was originally applied to this 

 plant from the fact of its bruised rhizome being employed by the native 

 Indians as an application to the poisoned wounds inflicted by their arrows. 

 The name arrow root has since been given to various other starches used 

 as food in this country. M. ramosissima is also used in the East ludies for 

 obtaining arrow-root. 



Canna One or more species of this genus yield "Tons les mois," a very 



pure and useful starch, now largely consumed in this country and elsewhere. 

 The exact species of Canna from which this is obtained is not certainly known. 

 It is said to be C. edulis. but it is just as probable to he obtained also from 

 C. glauca and C. Archiras. A rhizome called " African Turmeric." from its 

 resemblance in appearance and properties to ordinary commercial Turmeric, 

 has been recently described by Dr. Daniell in the Pharmaceutical Journal. 

 The plant producing it is said to be the Canna speciosa of Roscoe. The seeds 

 of C. indica are commonly known under the name of Indian Shot, from their 

 black colour and hardness, &c. 



Natural Order 252. MusACEiE. — The Banana or Plantain 

 Order. — Herbaceous plants often of large size. Leaves 

 with parallel curved veins {fig. 298), and long sheathing petioles, 

 which together form by their union a spurious aerial stem. 

 Flowers irregular, spathaceous. Perianth irregular, 6-parted, 

 petaloid, superior, arranged in 2 whorls. Stamens 6, inserted 

 upon the divisions of the perianth, some abortive ; anthers 2- 



