166 



ZINGIBERACEiE. 



[Endogens. 



R. Br. Pwdr.; membrane of the amnios, Ibid, in King's Voyage, 21), with which it 



°FormeriVthe'Gin K erworts and Marants were united in one tribe called Canneae : hence 

 it is certain that they are at least more nearly related to each other than to anything 

 else, and that whatever is the affinity of the one will be that of the other Taking the 

 vegetation into account, these two tribes are exceedingly nearly allied to Musads, in 

 which is found the same kind of leaf, the veins of which are closely set, and diverge from 

 the midrib to the margin, being connected by very weak 

 and imperfect intermediate veins ; the leaves have also 

 the same distinct petiole, often with a thickened rounded 

 space at the apex ; Musads are, however, pent- or hex- 

 androus, with a calyx and corolla of the same texture. 

 I rids are the next Order with which Gingerworts may 

 be compared, agreeing in their superior flowers, which 

 have sometimes an approach to the irregularity of 

 Alpinia, and also in the triple number of their stamens ; 

 but while these organs are all developed in Irids, two 

 are abortive or deformed in Gingerworts and Marants. 

 Bromelworts have been identified with them of old, but 

 their resemblance consists chiefly in the distinction of 

 calyx and corolla, and their inferior ovary. To Orchids, 

 to which the flowers of Mantisia bear much resemblance, 

 they are related in consequence of the reduction of 

 their three stamens to one by the abortion of two : but 

 the cohesion of the stamens and style in the latter, and 

 the want of any distinction between calyx and 

 corolla, sufficiently separate them, besides which the 

 series which produces the stamens in Orchids answers 

 to the sterile stamens or inner limb of the corolla 

 in the Gingerworts. There is a volume consecrated 

 to plants of this kind by Roscoe, who first remodelled 

 the genera and reduced them within fixed limits. 

 Between the embryo and the albumen is interposed a 

 fleshy body enveloping the former : this has been called 

 a process of the rostellum by Correa, a cotyledon by 

 Smith, a vitellus by Gsertner and Brown, a central 

 indurated portion of the albumen by Richard. It is now known to be the innermost 

 integument of the ovule, unabsorbed during the advance of this body to maturity. 



Independently of the presence of this vitellus, the most remarkable part of the struc- 

 ture of Gingerworts depends on the number of divisions of the floral envelopes, which 

 consist of a tubular calyx, and of two more series instead of one. Brown, struck with 

 this unusual deviation from the ordinary organization of Monocotyledons, was disposed 

 to consider the calyx an accessory part (Prodr. 305) ; but Lestiboudois' explanation 

 appears more satisfactory. According to this botanist Gingerworts are really hexandrous, 

 like the nearly-related Musads ; but of their stamens the outer series is petaloid, and 

 forms the inner limb of the corolla, and of the inner series of stamens the central one 

 only developes, the lateral ones appearing in the form of rudimentary scales. This 

 notion of Lestiboudois is confirmed by Marants, in which the inner stamens (even 

 that which is antheriferous) become petaloid like the outer : thus showing that in these 

 plants there is a strong and general tendency in the filaments to assume the state of 

 petals. 



All are tropical, or nearly so. By far the greater number inhabit various parts 

 of the East Indies ; some are found in Africa, and a few in America. They form a part 

 of the singular Flora of Japan. 



They are generally objects of great beauty, either on account of the high develop- 

 ment of the floral envelopes, as in Hedychium coronarium and Alpinia nutans ; or 

 because of the rich and glowing colours of the bracts, as in Curcuma Roscoeana. They 

 are, however, principally valued for the sake of the aromatic stimulating properties of 

 the riiot or rhizome, such as are found in Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Galangale 

 (Alpinia racemosa and Galanga), Zedoary (Curcuma Zedoaria and Zerumbet), and 

 some other species of the latter genus. Many more species are used in a similar 

 manner. The warm and pungent roots of the greater and lesser Galangale are not only 

 used by the Indian doctors in cases of dyspepsia, but are also considered useful in 



Fig. CXI V.— A flower of Mantisia saltatoria ; 1. style, stigma, and anther, 2. ovary, style, and 

 abortive stamens. 



Fig. CXIV. 



