327 

 BOTANY. 



A DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF THE PLANTS COLLECTED 

 DURING THE TUSCAN'S VOYAGE. 



MONANDB1A. MONOGYNIA. 



Amomum curcuma. Turmeric. Attains, by its 

 foliage, the height of three feet. The leaves are erect 

 ovate- lanceolate, smooth and entire, and arise from the 

 root by long foot-stalks. The fructification (noticed in 

 April) also arises from the root, and by an erect pe- 

 duncle or scape ; it is six or eight inches in height, and 

 composed of a spike covered with imbricated bractece, 

 each bractea inclosing a yellow flower. The entire 

 plant has an aromatic odour. The root occupies a 

 great extent of soil, and possesses all the best qualities 

 of that produced in the East Indies. The Society 

 Islanders make no use of the plant ; but the Marque- 

 sans cultivate it carefully, and employ the root as a 

 cosmetic. 



Habitat. Pitcairn Island ; Society Isles, native name 

 area ; Marquesas, hena ; Sandwich group, orena. 



A. zerumbet. Wild Ginger. In growth and height 

 this species resembles the preceding. Its leaves are 

 broad and pinnated. Flower-spike compact ; bracteae 

 red ; flowers pale-yellow, and without odour. The root 

 resembles that of the officinal ginger, and has also a 

 very aromatic smell ; but it is bitter, has little or no 

 pungency, and consequently is not applicable to the 

 same uses as the ginger of commerce. The compact 

 scales of the bractese contain a large quantity of muci- 

 laginous fluid, which has a bland taste and is slightly 

 flavoured with the aroma of the plant. When journey- 

 ing over the Society Islands, I have often availed my- 



