143 



581. MARAXTA ARUNDINACEA, continued. 



/. Starch, from British Gniana. 



g. Ditto. (African Arrowroot.) 



Note. Specimen c is a sample of the root from which African arrowroot 

 is prepared. Specimen / is No. 31 of the British Guiana collection of 

 drags in the International Exhibition of 1851. It was contributed by 

 T. II. Garnett, and was produced at Herstelling plantation, Demerara. 

 P. J. [1], vol. xi., p. 159. For fig. of starch see Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii., 

 pt. ii., frontispiece, fig. 10; and also pt. i., p. 224. For African arrowroot, 

 see P. J. [1], vol. x., p. 272. See Bentl. <& Trim., Med. Plants, tab, 265. 



582. THALIA DEALBATA, Pros. 



a. Inflorescence, preserved wet. 



Note. The structure of the leaf-stalk is very curious. See Treat. Dot., 

 p. 1138. The specimen was presented by Prof. Bentley. It was grown in 

 the Royal Botanical Gardens, London. 



MUSACE^E. 



583. MUSA PARADISAICA, L. (Plantain.) 



a. Fruit. (Plantain core sliced.) 



6. Ditto. (Ditto, powdered ; Plantain Meal, Conquin Tay.) 



c. Starch. 



Note. Specimen c was prepared at Kitty plantation, Demerara, and 

 was contributed to the International Exhibition of 1851, by Dr. Shier. 

 See P. J. [1] , vol.xi., p. 159, No/34 ; and p. 156, No. 13. Specimens a and 

 6 were presented to Dr. Pereira by Dr. Shier. Plantain starch closely 

 resembles that of East Indian arrowroot in appearance. The fruits yield 

 about 17 per cent, of it. For fig. see Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii., pt. ii. ; 

 frontispiece, No. 21. See also 1. c., vol. i., p. 222. 



IRIDACE^E. 



584. CROCUS SATIYUS, L. 



a. Stigmata. (Hay Saffron.) Two specimens. 

 &. Ditto. (Adulterated Saffron.) 



c. Ditto. (Adulterated Saffron.) 



d. Ditto. (After being used in infusion.) 



e. Ditto. (Exhausted of colouring matter.) 



Note. Saffron is sometimes adulterated with safflower, marigold florets, 

 or crocus stamens, carbonate of calcium, and sulphate of barium. Saf- 

 flower, if present, may be recognised when the saffron is put into warm 

 water, by its tubular corolla with syngenesious anthers ; marigold petals 

 and crocus stamens by not being tripartite as in the saffron (P. J. [2] , 

 vol. vii.p.452). Carbonate of calcium, if present, may be detected by its 

 effervescence with hydrochloric acid (P. J. [3], vol. i., pp. 241, 624); and 

 oil, which is sometimes used to freshen the colour of saffron, by pressure 

 between blotting-paper. See Pharmacographia, p. 606 ; Per. Mat. Med., 

 vol. ii., pt. i., p. 216. Cake saffron consists of the florets of safflower 

 made into thin cakes with gum-water. For Cape saffron see Lyperia 

 crocea. For cultivation in France and Austria, see P. J. [1] , vol. viii., 

 p. 171; in Cashmere, P. J. [1], vol. xv., p. 226; in Pennsylvania, P. J. 

 [2] , vol. ix., p. 28 ; in France, P. J. [3] , vol. iv., p. 551 ; in Italy, P. J. 

 [3], vol. vi., p. 215. For fig. of plant, see Bentley and Trimen, M- </. 

 Plants, tab. 274. 



