PHRYNIUM ALLOUYA. 
MONANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
SECT. I. CANN. 
Gry. Cuar.—Anther single, attached to the margin of the filament; style tubular, revolute, truncate; stigma 
a circular membranaceous orifice ; capsule three cells; seeds three, perforated. 
Spec. Cuar.—Leaves radical, on long petioles, ovate-lanceolate, strongly nerved, very unequally divided by the 
mid-rib ; scape short, risirig from the base of the leaves; inflorescence capitate, imbricate; exterior 
bractes lozenge-shaped ; flowers white. 
Syy.—Allouya, foliis cannacori, radicibus tuberosis. Plum. MS. Hist. 5. 35. 
Maranta Allouya, foliis amplis, ovato-rotundatis, scapo nudo, capitulo folioso, variegato. Aubl. Guian. i. 3. 
Maranta Allouya, foliis radicalibus, ovato-lanceolatis, petiolatis, nervosis ; spica ovata pedunculata terminali. 
Jacq. Fragmenta, p. 53. n. 174. tab. 71. Curcuma Americana, Lamarck Enc. ii. p- 228. Maranta 
Allouya, Radix ovata, non acris, caulis 2-3, folia cannee, bracteee viridi alboque varize, flores albi. 
Martinica, Domingo. Roémer § Schultes, i. 15, 16. 
Maranta Allouia, lateral tufted arrow-root. Smith, in Rees? Cyclop. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Root a large ovate bulb, with several globose or ovate tubers attached by strong fibres; leayes radical, 
on long petioles, ovate-lanceolate, inzequilateral, strongly nerved ; scape rising from the sheath of a floral leaf 
near the base, short, simple, bearing a capitate spike; outer bractes lozenge-shaped, with pale membranaceous 
margins, imbricated; opposite bracte angular, carinate, with wings on the cuter angles, each series of bractes 
containing two flowers; calyx superior, of three leaflets, equal; corolla tubular, with a double limb; outer 
limb of three small ovate equal segments; inner limb  bilabiate ; upper lip antheriferous, hooded; lower lip 
deeply bifid, lobes ovate; flowers a pure white; anther attached to the margin of the upper lip or filament 
by a short subulate process; style connate with the filament and anther, tubular, revolute, truncate ; stigma 
an orbicular orifice ; capsule three cells; seeds three. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
From its radical habit, capitate inflorescence, and tuberous farinaceous edible roots, it is not surprising that 
the French botanists have given to this plant the name of the American Curcuma; although in the essential 
characters of the two genera there appears not to be the least resemblance. From the time of Aublet 
this plant has been referred to Maranta, but the nearer examination of the parts of fructification, which later 
discoveries have afforded, has enabled us at length to refer it to its proper station in the Linnean system. 
The plant from which the drawing of the root in the present figure was taken, has been for some years 
in the Botanic Garden at Liverpool, but not having yet flowered, we have been obliged to have recourse to 
a specimen brought from the island of St. Vincent, by Charles 8. Parker, sq. who found it flowering there in 
the month of August 1824, at a place called Bel air, and who informs us that this species, or one very 
nearly allied to it, is cultivated in Guadaloupe, under the name of Moustache de Barbade, where it is said 
to be prepared in the same manner as arrow-root. 
REFERENCES. 
. Bractes expanded, showing two young unopened flowers. 
. Exterior floral bracte. 
1 
2 
8. Secondary bracte. 
4. Opposite angular winged bracte. 
5 
. A young flower before expansion, the filament, anther and style connate. 
