ARROW-ROOT TRIBE. BANANA TRIBE. 525 



three feet, has broad pointed leaves, and is crowned by a spike 

 of small white flowers. Other species have more showy flowers ; 

 such is the Canna, sometimes cultivated in our hot-houses, the 

 seeds of which are so hard as to have received the name of Indian 

 Shot. 



701. There are probably no Vegetable products that serve as 

 articles of food to Man, which are produced in such large 

 quantity, with so trifling an amount of care and attention, as 

 those afforded by one or two species of the order MUSACEJE. or 

 Plantain tribe. All the plants of this group are, like those of 

 the two former, natives of tropical countries ; the Plantain itself 

 is not at present known except under cultivation, and being now 

 almost universally diffused through the warmer regions of the 

 globe, it is difficult to state what is its original habitation. The 

 leaves of the whole are characterised by the peculiarity in the 

 distribution of the veins, formerly mentioned (. 231) as existing 

 in the Plantain and Banana. In the structure of their flowers, 

 we find in this order a still nearer approach to the regular type. 

 These arise in clusters, protected by a large bract enfolding many 

 buds, which is termed a spathe. The perianth consists of six 

 pieces, all of which are frequently of brilliant colours ; but as 

 three are generally external to the others, they must be regarded 

 as sepals of the calyx, whilst the inner ones constitute the 

 corolla. They are all adherent at the bottom to the ovarium, 

 which is consequently inferior; and they sometimes present a 

 degree of irregularity. The stamens are six in number, but 

 some are not unfrequently undeveloped ; the anthers in many 

 species are surmounted by a sort of crest resembling an expanded 

 petal. The ovarium consists of three adherent carpels, which 

 form distinct cells, each generally containing several seeds ; the 

 styles are united into a single column ; but this separates at the 

 top into three stigmas. The fruit is usually succulent. 



702. The two most valuable plants of this order are the 

 Banana and Plantain ; the fruit is nearly the same in form and 

 size, but differs in taste ; that of the former being sweet, some- 

 what resembling a high-flavoured but over-ripe pear: whilst 



