Hellenia Chinensis (Languas Chinensis Keenig, Retz. Monan. 65; Heritieria Chinensis, Retz. Obs. vi. 18) and 
Retz. Mon. 67. Id. Obs. Bot. vi. 18) are the Alpinia Alba, 
Hellenia Aquatica (Languas Aquatica Keenig, 
t, of which no further account has yet been obtained. 
A. Chinensis and A. Aquatica of my former arrangemen 
It appears then that the genus Hellenia of Willdenow (the Languas and Heritiera of Keenig and 
Retzius) is absorbed in that of Alpinia; but a distinctive character has since been observed by Mr. Brown, 
which he conceives to be sufficient to separate some of the plants of which it is composed from Alpinia, 
and to establish them as a distinct genus. This character depends chiefly on the filament being extended 
somewhat beyond the anther, whilst in the genus Alpinia, the anther is always terminal (Brown Prod. Pl. 
Nov. Holl. vol. 1, p. 307.) The suggestion of Mr. Brown has been adopted by Sir J. E. Smith under 
the article Hellenia in Rees’s New Cyclopedia, where the grounds of this alteration are fully given. Only — 
two species are -there included, viz. the H. Allughas of Retzius, figured also by Edwards, and the H. 
Cerulea of Brown, Prod. 308, of which I conceive the latter only to be an Hellenia; a doubt is expressed 
by Mr. Brown whether the Alpinia Alba, A. Chinensis and A. Aquatica of Retzius and Willdenow may 
not also be referred to this genus. 
The Hornstedtia of Willdenow is a genus founded upon two plants described by Retzius (Obs. Mon. 
68, 69) under the names of Amomum Scyphyferwn and A. Leonurus. Of these plants Retzius observes he 
has found no figures in Rumphius, Van Rheede, or Plukenet, but from his descriptions it appears that the 
inflorescence is radical in an imbricated spike, and that in both of them the anther is crowned by a 
membranous projection, viz. 1, Apice Membrana rotundata colorata, nuda, coronata. 2, Anthera, ad apicem, 
Membrana bifida, erecta coronata. This agrees so nearly with the character cf Amomum, which has the 
filament with a lobed crest above the anther, that Gmelin has referred them to that genus; where they 
may be allowed to remain; at least until we can obtain a sight of the living plants. 
In the Syst. Veg. of Roemer and Schultz (Stutgard 1817) three new genera of Scitaminean Plants 
are introduced, viz. 1 Peronia, 2 Ceratanthera, and 3 Roscoea, the first of these is the Thalia Dealbata, 
the second Globha Marantina, both of which are figured in the present work, and the third is the genus 
named by Sir James Edward Smith in his Ewotie Botany published in 1805, in honour of the Author of 
the present work. 
The genus Renealmia as inserted in the edition of the system of Linnzeus by Willdenow was first 
proposed by Linnzus, but the plant was afterwards considered as an Alpinia, as before stated, and given 
under the name of Alpinia Exaltata in Rees’s Cyclopedia, and other works, Further inquiry and repeated 
examinations of the actual specimens have however shown not only that the idea of Linnaeus was correct, 
but that the genus Renealmia includes also several other plants of great importance, as well in the eastern 
as western hemisphere, amongst’ which is probably the celebrated Cardamom plant, the Eletari of the Hort. 
Malabar. which Dr. Maton had already in his observations in Trans. Lin. Soc. vol. x. p- 250, demonstrated 
could not be an Alpinia, and had proposed to establish as a new genus by the name of Elettaria, a name 
which has been adopted by several Botanists, and particularly by Roemer and Schultz in their. editiontofatha 
Systema Nature of Linneus. But the name of Elettaria being of Indian origin, and characterising only 
the individual plant, I had intended to propose to exchange it for that of Matonia, in honone of my highly 
respected friend Dr. Maton, one of the Vice Presidents of the Linnean Society; but more recent discomorics 
having shown me that this plant, as well as_ several others of great beauty and importance in both the 
Hast and West Indies are species of Renraumia, I find myself compelled to arrange it under that name, 
and consequently that it cannot be considered as constituting a new genus. 
Several singular plants found on the Continent of ‘America and in the West Indian Islands belonging 
to the section of Canne, which had been discovered and figured by Plumier andicont eo thith 
> some of which were 
