HEDYCHIUM. 77 



able for their perfume ; the following are the most interesting on 

 that account : — 



Hedychium Coronarium, described under this name by 

 Linnaius. Sp. pi. ed. AVilld. i., p. 10 : Konig in Eetz. Obs. fasc. o, 

 p. 73 ; Eoxb. Flor. Ind. i. p. 9 ; Bot. Mag. t. 708. 



Synonymous with Gandsulium, Eumph. Amb. v. p. 17o, t. 69 f. 

 3 ; Lamarck Ency. ii. p. 603. Called by the Bengalees Groruk- 

 natha, also Dulala-champa. 



This handsome species is a native of various parts of Bengal and 

 the neighbouring provinces, and is much cultivated for the sake of 

 its large, very fragrant blossoms, which commence to open during 

 the rains and continue in great profusion for a length of time. 

 They are pure white, from 2 to 4 forming to each bracte, but 

 seldom more than one or two of them expand at the same time, A 

 variety deeply tinged with yellow is found in some of the interior 

 provinces and another of a pale yellow colour ; all are equally 

 fragrant. 



The root is horizontal, perennial, round, about as thick as a 

 man's thumb, fleshy, marked with annular cicatrices. The stems 

 are erect, 3 to 4 feet high, round, everywhere covered with the 

 sheaths of the leaves. The leaves are from 9 to 12 inches lono- 



o 



and about 2 broad, sessile, alternate, bifarious, lanceolate, tapering 

 to an evanescent point ; of a deep green and smooth above : striated 

 and pale below and slightly covered with depressed, soft, white 

 hairs. The sheaths are smooth on both sides, striated, terminating 

 in a ligulated process (as in many of the grasses) which is often 

 2-parted. Spike terminal, solitary, erect, linear-oblong, about the 

 size of the thumb, compactly imbricated, with many large, oval, 

 concave, green, common, permanent bractes. The flowers are as 

 above described. Bractes : besides the common exterior ones 

 already mentioned, there are as many interior as there are flowers 

 in the fascicle ; the largest of which is about half the length of the 

 common bracte, and envelopes not only the most forward (exterior) 

 flower, but all those of the same fascicle gradually diminishing in 

 size ; all have a sheathing base, are membranous and striated. 

 The calyx is superior, one leafed, a little inflated, contracted at the 

 mouth, a little hairy, striated, and half the length of the tube of 

 the corolla. The tube is long and slender, from the apex of the 

 exterior bractes, recurved. The corolla is one-petaled. Border 



