IV. MUSACE^E. 765 



little incurved at the tips. FLOWERS $ , irregular, sessile, or pedicelled, in the axil 

 of a spathe ; peduncles radical . or axillary, furnished with inflated spathelike 

 coloured distichous or alternate bracts. PERIANTH epigynous, petaloid, of six 2- 

 seriate often dissimilar segments, one of the outer anterior usually very large, often 

 keeled, 2 of the inner lateral often smaller, the third posterior, always minute, 

 labelliform ; segments all distinct (Ravenala., Heliconia), or variously coherent; some- 

 times the 2 inner lateral united into a tube split behind, and enclosing the stamens 

 (Strelitzia} ; sometimes the 3 outer and the 2 lateral inner form a tube split behind, 

 and 5-lobed at the top (Musa). STAMENS 6, inserted at the base of the perianth- 

 segments, the posterior opposite to the labelliform segment usually imperfect, as are 

 sometimes several of the others ; filaments plane, free ; anthers introrse ; cells 2, sub- 

 opposed, elongated and adnate to a connective which is prolonged into a point or 

 membranous appendage, dehiscence longitudinal ; pollen globose. OVARY inferior, 

 cells 3, opposite the inner perianth-segments ; style simple, cylindric ; stigma with 

 3 linear lobes, papillose on their inner face, or concave, obscurely 6-lobed ; ovules 

 solitary and basilar in each cell, or numerous and 2- several-seriate at the central 

 angle of the cell, anatropous. FRUIT umbilicate, with 3 1-many-seeded cells; 

 sometimes fleshy, indehiscent, with numerous seeds buried in the pulp (Musa), some- 

 times sub-drupaceous, with a fleshy coriaceous epicarp and bony endocarp ; dehis- 

 cence either by loculicidal many-seeded valves (Strelitzia, Ravenala), or into 3 

 septicidal 1 -seeded cocci (Heliconia). SEEDS ovoid [or cubical or angled], fixed by 

 one end or by the centre ; funicle obsolete, or dilated into a fleshy membranous 

 laciniate or hairy aril; testa coriaceous, hard, smooth or rugose; albumen fleshy, 

 farinaceous. EMBRYO straight, oblong-linear or fungiform ; radicular end perfora- 

 ting the albumen, reaching the hilum, inferior or centripetal. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 

 Heliconia. Musa. Strelitzia. Ravenala. 



Musacece approach Cannacete and Zingiberacece in the structure of their stem, the nervation of their 

 leaves, the 3'rcelled inferior ovary, and the albuminous seeds ; they are distinguished by their 2-seriate 

 perianth -without staminodes, the number of their normal stamens, and the absence of aromatic principles. 

 They are especially distinguished from other epigynous Monocotyledons by their habit, irregular flower, 

 and the nature of their sometimes spathaceous bracts. 



Heliconia inhabits tropical America, Urania the tropics of the Old World, Strelitzia South Africa, 

 Ravenala Madagascar ; Musa;, natives of the Old World, were transported to America before its discovery 

 by Europeans, and are now dispersed throughout the tropical and sub-tropical zone. 



Musacca, which, by their elegant habit and the beauty of their flowers and foliage, are amongst the 

 greatest ornaments of the tropical Flora, are further eminently useful to the inhabitants of those climates. 

 The Banana and Plantain fruits (Musa paradisiac** and sapientum) afford an agreeable sweet farinaceous 

 food and a refreshing drink. The pith of the stem, the top of the floral spike, and even the shoots of 

 several species are eaten as vegetables. The culture of these valuable plants is not less important in the 

 tropics than that of cereals and farinaceous tubers in temperate regions. The variety of food furnished 

 by Bananas in different stages of ripeness is the admiration of travellers. Cultivation has produced nume- 

 rous varieties of form, colour, and taste. Humboldt and Boussingault have estimated that, under good 

 cultivation, a Banana plant will produce on an average in one year three bunches of fruit, each weighing 

 44 Ib. ; these would yield for every 3 acres, in hot climates, 404,800 Ib. of Bananas ; and in countries 

 on the limits of its culture 140,800 Ib., an amount far exceeding the maximum yield of our tuberous 

 plants, which are, besides, much less nutritious than an equal weight of Bananas. 



