COSTUS CYLINDRICUS. 
MONANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
SECT. II. SCITAMINE®. 
Gey. Cuar.—Anther double, attached to the front of the petal-like filament; filament extending beyond the 
anther, ovate, intire; inner limb of - corolla unilabiate ; capsule three-celled ; seeds numerous. 
Spec. Cuar.—Stem cylindrical, spiral; ocrea fimbriate; leaves broad-lanceolate-obtuse, inzequilateral, glaucous 
below; spike cylindrical, crimson; flowers yellow; lip rhomboid. 
Syv.—Paco-caatinga. Maregrav. Brasil, lib. i. cap. 23. p. 49. 
Paco-coatinga, caule spirali minor. Plum. Hist. y. 30. 
Costus comosus. Roemer & Schultes, i. p- 25. q. 
Costus cylindricus. Jb. i. p. 26. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Root tuberous; stem cylindrical, spiral, six feet high or upwards ; leaves alternate, broad-lanceolate-obtuse, 
about five inches long, ineequilateral, glaucous below ; petioles very short, terminating in an ocrea fimbriated 
with strong white threads surrounding the stem; spike terminal, cylindrical, 5-7 inches long, declined ; 
bractes numerous, closely imbricate; outer bracte of a rhomboidal form, bright scarlet; flowers expanding in 
succession, dull yellow; outer limb of corolla in three segments; outer segments ovate, equal; inner limb 
or lip rhomboidal, concave, larger than the segments of the outer limb; the faux or nectarium composed 
of a mass of orange-coloured succulent fibres; filament spatulate, ovate, and intire at the apex; anther 
placed in front below the apex, of two lobes, naked; style strong, cylindrical, nearly the length of the 
filament, naked at the base; stigma cup-shaped, compressed so as to resemble two lips with ciliated margins, 
supported by two short, blunt processes; capsule three-celled ; seeds numerous. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
The arrangement and history of this genus have been attended with considerable difficulty; but that 
our plant is the Paco-coatingo of Piso, caule spirali minor of Plumier, there cannot be any doubt. We 
are possessed of a plant of it in the Botanic Garden at Liverpool, sent us by the late Baron de Schack, 
from Trinidad; but this not having yet flowered, we have had recourse, on the present occasion, to a fine 
specimen brought by Charles 8. Parker, Esq. from the same place, the fruit and sone ne which wae 
preserved in spirits, and enable us to give the most satisfactory details of the fructification; eae! 
conforming to the generic character, which distinguishes this from every other genus of Monandrian Plants, 
in having the appendages or processes usually found at the base, placed at the summit of the style. 
REFERENCES. 
. Outer bracte. 
. Inner bracte. 
. Intire flower. 
. Sections of outer limb of corolla. 
Inner limb of corolla, or lip and nectary. 
- Filament, anther, style and stigma. 
. Style and stigma separated. 
ort an fF © wp 
Stigma, with its two blunt processes, magnified. 
