Sloaneus. Illa enim in Horto Chelseyano florens, se ad Marante genus pertinere confirmavit. Flores autem minores 
et pauciores quam in Houstoni planta conspiciunter. Si vero, ut judicare quidem fas est, hee planta inter se specie 
non differant, &c.” That they are specifically different is, however, evident from the foregoing remarks; and as 
Martyn has not observed any down on the leaves of his plant, (a circumstance too remarkable to have been omitted 
in his description,) this may be taken as an additional proof that his plant is noé the true arundinacea. 
According to Sloane, the present plant was first brought to J amaica and the Caribbean Islands from Dominica. 
It is undoubtedly a native of the tropical parts of America, and is not even enumerated in the Mora Indica of 
Dr. Roxburgh. The arrow-root of the East is the Curcuma. 
The following account of the cultivation and preparation of the arrow-root, is given from the late Dr. William 
Wright’s Plants of Jamaica; the original unpublished MS. of which is in the Library of the Botanic Garden 
at Liverpool. 
« Indian arrow-root is cultivated in enclosed fields. After being ten or twelve months planted, it is dug up. 
The larger roots are selected for use, and the smaller again planted for a future crop. 
« The roots are white, jointed, of the thickness of a man’s finger, and from four to eight inches long. These 
roots, being washed, are beaten in large, deep, wooden mortars, then thrown into a tub of clear water, and well 
stirred. The milky liquor is passed through a hair sieve, and the fibrous part thrown away. In about an hour, 
the amylaceous matter subsides ; the clear water is drained off, and more fresh water added, which being afterwards 
poured off, the white mass is taken out, and dried in the sun. One-half the weight of these roots is pure starch.” 
Iam informed by my friend Dr. Traill, that by the Indians of Guiana it is called arri, or arree, whence 
probably the name of arrow-root. 
REFERENCES. 
1. The flower intire. 
2. Calyx. 
Filament, anther, and style. 
Po 
. Style and stigma separate. 
or 
. Seed-vessel. 
6. Seed. 
