518 ZINGIBERACE^! OB SCITAMINE^. 



Family. (Mono-epigyn.) Perianth superior, in 2 whorls; outer (calyx) 

 tubular, 3-lobed, short; inner (corolla) tubular, elongated, 3-parted, 

 segments nearly equal. Stamens in 2 whorls; outer sterile, petaloid, 

 having the appearance of a 3-parted corolline whorl, with the inter- 

 mediate segment (labellum) larger than the rest, and often 3-lobed, 

 sometimes the lateral segments are inconspicuous or nearly abortive ; 

 inner stamens 3, the two lateral being abortive, the intermediate one 

 opposite the labellum, fertile ; filament not petaloid, often prolonged 

 beyond the anther ; anther 2-celled, dehiscing longitudinally. Ovary 

 3-celled, or imperfectly so; ovules several, anatropal, attached to a 

 placenta in the axis ; style filiform ; stigma dilated, hollow. Fruit 

 usually a 3-celled capsule, sometimes baccate. Seeds roundish or 

 angular, sometimes with an arillus; embryo enclosed in a vitellus 

 (the remains of the embryo-sac), surrounded by farinaceous albumen, 

 which is deficient near the hilum. Herbs, with a creeping rhizome, 

 and simple sheathing leaves, having parallel veins proceeding from the 

 midrib to the margin. The flowers arise from membranous spa- 

 thaceous bracts. Natives of tropical countries. Lindley mentions 29 

 genera, and 247 species. Examples Zingiber, Curcuma, Amomum. 

 Hedychium, Kenealmia. 



1060. Plants often with showy flowers, having aromatic stimulant 

 properties, which reside chiefly in their rhizome or root, and in their 

 seeds. Some yield starchy matter. The rhizome of Zingiber officinale 

 (Amomum Zingiber}, constitutes the Ginger of commerce, which is im- 

 ported from the East and "West Indies. In the young state the 

 rhizomes are fleshy and slightly aromatic, and they are then used as 

 preserves ; while in a more advanced state, the aroma is fully devel- 

 oped, their texture is more woody, and they are then fit for ordinary 

 ginger. When dried, after immersion in hot water, they form Black 

 ginger ; when simply dried in the sun, after being cleaned, they re- 

 ceive the name of White ginger. The rhizome contains an acrid resin 

 and volatile oil, starch and gum. It is used as a tonic and carminative, 

 in the form of powder, syrup, and tincture. Curcuma longa, a native 

 of Eastern Asia, furnishes Turmeric. This consists of the branches of 

 the rhizome, or root-stock. Its powder is lemon-yellow, and it is 

 used as a dye-stuff. It contains starch, an acrid volatile oil, and a 

 yellow colouring matter called Curcumin. It is employed medicinally 

 as an aromatic carminative, and, as a condiment, it enters into the 

 composition of curry-powder. The root-stocks of Alpinia racerrwsa, 

 and A. Galanga, Galangale, and many other plants of the order, have 

 the same properties as ginger. Various species of Amomum, Elettaria, 

 and Renealmia, appear to furnish the Cardamoms of the shops, which 

 consist of the oval trivalvular capsules containing the seeds. The 

 following are some of the sources whence Cardamoms are pro- 

 cured: 



