PETALOIDE^E. 377 



Orcliidaccce, with a double perianth and two circles of stamens, have 

 the anterior stamen (belonging to the outer circle) developed, the rest 

 abortive, or present in the form of horns, .ridges, &c. (O) ; or, in Cypri- 

 pedium, they have the two lateral stamens of the inner circle developed, 

 the anterior and all those of the outer circle abortive. 



Zingiberacefs, with a double perianth, have the outer circle of stamens 

 petaloid, forming a third perianthial circle, the odd (posterior) stamen of 

 the inner circle developed, the 2 lateral abortive (Z). 



Marantacese, with a double perianth, have the outer circle of stamens 

 more or less developed in a petaloid form, as a third perianthial circle, and 

 one lateral stamen of the inner circle fertile the other lateral stamen, 

 with the posterior one, being abortive (M). Dr. Dickie has lately shown 

 that the anther of Canna is in reality 2-celled. 



Eichler gives a different explanation of the flowers of these plants. 

 According to him the flower of Canna consists of 5 ternary verticils alterna- 

 ting one with another, the two outer constituting the perianth, the two fol- 

 lowing ones the androecium, and the last the pistil. The perianth and pistil 

 are complete, but the outer whorl of the androecium is completely sup- 

 pressed, as is also one stamen of the inner whorl. Of the two remaining 

 stamens of this inner whorl, one has half an anther only, the other is 

 entirely petalodic. This second whorl of the andrcecium also furnishes 

 accessory appendages of different shapes in various genera. In Zingi- 

 beraceee the outer whorl of stamens is suppressed, but the inner whorl is 

 complete, though there is only one perfect stamen, and this has two anther- 

 lobes. In Musaceae the inner row of the androecium is complete, and only 

 one member of the outer one is deficient. In Cypripedium there is one 

 member of the outer row present as a staminode and two of the inner. 

 In Xyridese, Burrnanniaceae and some Eriocaulons, the inner whorl is 

 complete and perfect. In Irids, Grasses, and most Orchids the inner whorl 



Distribution. The species are numerous, and natives chiefly of tropical 

 America, Africa, and India. 



Qualities and Uses. The abundance of pure starch furnished by the 

 rhizomes of many species constitutes the principal feature of the Maran- 

 taceae considered from an economical point of view. True Arrowroot is 

 obtained from Maranta arundinacea, Allouyia, and nobilis (West Indies), 

 and M. ramosissima (East Indies). Tous-les-Mois is derived from species 

 of Canna, probably C. coccinea, Achiras, edulis, &c. Canna indica is called 

 " Indian shot," from its beautifully spherical seeds. Some of the species 

 are cultivated in our stoves. Many of the species of Calathea and Maranta 

 have beautifully coloured foliage. 



MUSACEJE (BANANAS) are large herbaceous plants with long sheath- 

 ing petioles forming a spurious stem ; leaves large, with a strong midrib 

 and parallel lateral veins ; flowers enclosed in a spathe, hermaphrodite ; 

 perianth more or less irregular, adherent, petaloid, in two 3-merous rows ; 

 stamens 6, on the segments of the perianth, some always abortive ; anthers 

 2-celled ; ovary 3-celled, many-seeded, or rarely 3-seeded ; fruit a capsule 

 or succulent and indehiscent ; embryo at the end of perisperm. Illustrative 

 Genera : Jleliconia, L. ; Musa, Tournef . ; Strelitzia, Banks ; Mavenala, 

 Adans. 



