COSTUS NIPALENSIS. 
MONANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
NU CLONE 
SECT. II. SCITAMINES. 
Gey. Cuar.—Anther double, attached to the front of the petal-like filament; filament intire, extending beyond 
the anther ; stigma supported by two fleshy processes; interior limb of corolla unilabiate ; capsule 
three-celled ; seeds numerous. 
Srec. Cuar.—Leaves lanceolate-obtuse, downy below, ocrea coloured, fimbriate ; calyx campanulate, trifid at the 
apex, deep purple; outer limb of corolla in three broad-lanceolate segments, bright pink; inner 
limb crenate, white; filament ovate, hairy on the back; stigma with two blunt fleshy: processes. 
Syv.—Costus speciosus (var. B.) angustifolius. Bot. Reg. No. 655. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Root of thick fleshy tubers, stem from four to five feet high, ascending spirally ; leaves alternate, lanceolate- 
obtuse, terminating in a filiform point, smooth above and downy below, on very short concave petioles; ocrea 
rubescent at the margin, and ciliated with long white hairs; spike terminal, capitate, imbricate ; flowers expanding in 
succession; outer bracte ovate, bright purple; calyx superior, persistent, campanulate, apex in three lanceolate, 
mucronate, erect, deep-purple segments; outer limb of corolla in three segments; segments ovate-lanceolate, 
mucronate, bright pink; inner limb, or lip, very large, undulate, crenate, transparent, white ; faux of the corolla, or 
nectary, beset with yellow succulent fibres ; filament ovate, intire, revolute at the apex, smooth on the front, but 
covered at the back with long white hairs; anther placed on the front surface of the filament, about half-an-inch 
below the apex, imbedded in its proper receptacle ; style strong, erect, naked at the base, the length of the filament; 
stigma tubular, compressed, with quadrangular lips, finely ciliated, and supported at the back by two short blunt 
horns or processes ; capsule ovate, three-celled ; seeds numerous. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
We have no hesitation in acceding to the opinion of Dr. Wallich, as recorded in Bot. Reg. p. 665. that this is 
“ a new species of Costus from Nipal,”* and not merely a variety of the Costus speciosus, with a plant of which we 
have had an opportunity ef comparing it in the Botanic Garden at Liverpool, and find it to differ in many 
essential respects. In particular, the speciosus is a plant of much larger growth, being from eight to nine feet high, 
whilst the Nipalensis scarcely attains half that height. In the Speciosus the leaves are broad-lanceolate, about six 
inches long, and four broad; but in our plant the leaves are lanceolate-obtuse, or broadest towards the apex, about a 
foot long, and at the widest part not more than three inches broad. The plant of the Speciosus in the Liverpool 
Garden has not yet flowered; but in comparing our present figure with that of the speciosus as given by Jacquin, 
(PL. rar. vol. i. tab. i.) we find the exterior limb of the corolla in the speciosus is white, in ours it is a beautiful 
bright rose-colour, whilst in Nipalensis the interior limb of the corolla is a pure transparent white, but in the 
Speciosus flesh-coloured.—We doubt not that when we have an opportunity of comparing the more immediate parts 
of fructification of these plants, still more striking distinctions will be obtained, but these are sufficient to show 
ru 
that the present must be considered as a distinct species, and not as a mere variety. 
found differently written in the present work, as following the text from which the quotation is made) 
A try (which will be A 
* The name of this country ( epala, and Nipala, with the ¢ sounded long, as in ¢ime, and the final @ is not pronounced.” The editors of 
, SEIT een 
“ is written in Sungskrita Dictionaries N 
i @ ing with the pronunciation in the country itself.” y. FZ. Ind. vol. ii. p. 89. 
Ps ‘ ly adopted Népal, “ as most agreeing wi 
Dr. Roxburgh’s Flora Indica have finally J 
