COSTUS SPIRALIS. 
MONANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Se een 
SECT. I1—SCITAMINER. 
Gry. Cuar.—Anther double, attached to the front of the petal-like filament; filament extending beyond the 
anther, entire; interior limb of corolla unilabiate; capsule three-celled; seeds numerous. 
Spec. — Fe Pao . : , A 
c. Cuar.—Stem cylindrical ; ocrea short, simple; leaves lanceolate-obtuse, inzequilateral, smooth on both sides ; 
mid-rib 
slightly downy on the upper side; spike ovate, imbricate, scarlet ; lip ovate, concave, 
entire, claw narrow; flowers rose colour. 
Syy.—Jacuacanga, aliis Paco caatinga, Piso, Hist. Nat. Brazil, cap. 60. p- 98. Amst. 1648. Caulis internodiis 
rarioribus et mollioribus distinctus, amplis et crassis foliis est conspicuus; ¢ cujus  vertice 
compactus squamatus, figura pyramidali et speciosa rubescens flos progerminat. 
Costus Pisonis. Bot. Reg. fig. 899. Capitulus terminalis, ovi columbini magnitudine, squamis sanguineis 
imbricatus, pauciflorus, flores, rosei magni, ¢ squamis erumpentes, citd decidui. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Stem cylindrical, spiral, smooth, about two feet in height, leaves alternating on the stem in an ascending 
circle, about six inches in length, broad-lanceolate-obtuse, ineequilateral, smooth on both sides, slightly downy 
on the upper mid-rib; petioles short, smooth; ocrea simple ; spike terminal, oval, erect; outer bractes ovate, 
acute, upper ones largest, imbricate, deep scarlet ; calyx tubular, three-toothed, scarlet; outer limb of corolla 
in three segments, the upper one the largest, the two lower ones of equal size; inner limb ovate, mucronate 
at the apex, with a narrow linear claw, flowers rose colour; filament erect, ovate, pointed; lobes of the 
anther white, linear, placed in front of the filament, about one-third its length below the apex; style strong, 
cylindrical, smooth, extending a little beyond the anther, naked at the base, but terminating with two blunt 
processes, supporting the stigma; stigma a compressed cup, with a ciliated margin ; germen ovate; seeds numerous. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
The Kditor of the Botanic Register (fig. 899 of that work) is undoubtedly correct in considering the 
plant which he has there figured, as being entirely different from the Alpinia Spicata of Jacquin, which is 
also figured in the present work under the name of Costus Spicatus; but whether it may be different from 
the Costus Spiralis of other authors, seems not to have been hitherto ascertained. There are in fact three 
species of the American genus of Costus, viz. the comosus, the spiralis, and the cernuus, all of which have 
an ovate, imbricated, compact spike, with scarlet bractes and rose-coloured flowers; one of which is undoubtedly 
that figured in the Bot. Reg. These species are believed to be all now in the Botanic Garden at Liverpool, 
although only one of them has yet flowered, and this we conceive to be the same as that figured in the 
Bot. Reg. This species was introduced from the Brazils, to the Botanic Garden at Liverpool, by Richard 
Harrison, Esq. of Aighburgh, where it has flowered, and is considered to be the true spiralis. Two other 
specimens under the same name have been received at the Botanic Garden, but have not yet flowered; 
one from the late Baron de Schack, at Trinidad, the other from Mr. Otto, at Berlin. 
We fully agree with the Editor of the Bot. Reg. that our plant is the Jacuacanga of Piso, the wood 
print of which is repeated by Marcgrave, for his Paco Caatinga ; Taney however, is not the same plant, but 
is, we conceive, the Costus Cylindricus of the present work. 
REFERENCES. 
. Sections of outer and inner limb of corolla. 
. Calyx. 
. Calyx and flower before expansion. 
Upper part of style, with the hornlets and stigma magnified. 
Bo woe 
Germen, style and stigma, natural size. 
Filament and anther, natural size. 
Dn 
