LINGIBER. 
That this genus is distinguished from the rest by its inflorescence, is an assertion invalidated by an 
inspection of the species published in the present work; from which it will appear that there are some 
species that flower from a radical scape, and others with a terminal spike; and consequently that these can 
be considered as nothing more than specific distinctions. 
For a long series of years the Zingiber was included by all botanists under the genus Amomum, 
although strikingly different both in its generic characters and its inherent properties. In adopting the 
name of Zingiber, Gzertner appears to have made the distinction, but this is not in fact the case; the 
‘plants he has described under that name being all of the Amomum tribe. No genus is now more certainly 
known at first sight by its peculiar filament than Zingiber; to resort to the inflorescence, is to rely on 
a fallacious rule. . 
All the known species of Zingiber are natives of the East. In the Flora Indica of Dr. Roxburgh, 
eleven species are described, eight of which flower radically, and three terminally. Of the former number, 
six species, and of the latter, two are figured in the present work; besides which a fine species, which 
flowered in the Liverpool Botanic Garden, and not heretofore described, has been added; to which I have 
given the name of Z. Chrysanthum, on account of the splendour of its radical flowers. 
Of the six species given in the Systema Veg. of Roemer and Schultes, the Z. purpureum is the same 
as the Z. Cassumunar of the present work. I believe the mistake arose with myself, having received 
the plant without a name, and conceiving it to be a new one, when I grew it upwards of 20 years 
ago, and gave it that name. 
