ZINGIBER ELATUM. 
MONANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
SECT. II. SCITAMINER, 
Gey. Cuar.—Anther double ; filament extending beyond the anther, in a subulate grooved beak, embracing 
the style. 
Spec. CHAr.—Spike terminal, bractes lanceolate, diverging, one-flowered ; lip broad, ovate, deeply notched at 
the apex; beak very long; flowers bright yellow. 
Syy.—Zingiber elatum. Rowb. Flor. Ind. v. i. p. 56. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Roots with numerous small tubers; stems herbaceous, from 4 to 5 feet high, sheathed by the decurrent 
petioles ; leaves bifarious, alternate, linear-lanceolate, recurved ; spikes terminal, of a narrow, lanceolate, compact 
form, composed of a series of erect, lanceolate, divaricate, pointed bractes, each containing a single flower ; 
calyx superior, toothed; corolla with a double limb, outer limb in three sections, the upper one larger, 
concave, the lower ones long, linear, declined, equal; lower lip expanding in three sections, the middle 
section deeply notched at the apex, the whole flower of a bright yellow; filament supporting the anther, 
and extending beyond it in a long subulate beak; anther two-lobed; style simple, extending beyond the 
beak of the filament, supported at the base by the germinal processes, and crowned by the ciliated stigma ; 
capsule size of a small olive, three-celled, three-valved. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
That the present terminal species of Zingiber is the Z. elatum of the Flora Indica (vol. i. p. 56.) we 
cannot entertain a doubt, after having attentively compared our figure with the very minute description there 
given. The drawing was brought, with many others, some years since, from the neighbourhood of Lucknow, 
by the Right Hon. the Earl of Mountnorris, and is here figured by his Lordship’s permission. We have 
long been of opinion that no generic distinction can be founded on the radical or terminal appearance of 
the spike; and we have some reason to doubt whether it affords even a good specific difference; as we 
may perhaps state more at large, if an opportunity occurs. 
The Z. elatum is a native of Bengal, flowering in the Botanic Garden at Calcutta in July and August, 
and ripening its seeds in September and October. It does not appear to have been yet introduced into Europe. 
