CURCUMA PETIOLATA. 
MONANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
SECT. II. SCITAMINE. 
Grn. Cuar.—Anther double, embracing the style, bicalcarate at the base; filament in three sections, the central 
section bearing the anther; capsule three-celled; seeds numerous. 
Spec. Cuar.—Spike central; plant intirely green; leaves long-petioled, broad-ovate, cordate at the base, acute 
at the apex; corolla intirely yellow; lip two-lobed; coma deep purple. 
Syy.—Curcuma petiolata. Rob. Flor. Ind. i. 36. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Bulbs and palmate tubers few and small, inwardly pale yellow; pendulous tubers on short fusiform fibres ; 
leaves broad-ovate, on very long grooved petioles, slightly cordate at the base, but tapering to an acute 
point at the extremity, smooth on both sides, strongly nerved, surrounding the spike, and rising to the 
height of five or six feet; scape rising from the centre of the leaves, simple, erect, bearing a foliaceous 
spike, consisting of numerous large, concave, imbricated bractes, terminating in a deep purple or _ lilac- 
coloured coma; the lower or fertile bractes each containing from three to five flowers; calyx superior, three- 
toothed; corolla tubular, inflated; exterior limb in three sections, ovate, erect; interior limb bilabiate; upper 
lip in three petal-like lobes, the central lobe bearing the anther, the lateral ones converging, and protecting 
it; lower lip small, ovate, diminishing towards the apex, where it is slightly bifid; the whole corolla a 
uniform yellow; anther bilobate, bicalcarate at the base; style slender, supported by the two usual germinal 
processes ; stigma a ciliated cup; germen ovate, three-celled. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
This very elegant central flowering species of Curcuma is of recent acquisition, having been discovered 
in Peou, and sent from thence by Mr. F. Carey, to the Botanic Garden at Calcutta. It was soon afterwards 
Sts 
transmitted by the kindness of Dr. Wallich, to Liverpool, where it continues to produce, annually, its fine 
flowers, affording, with its large deep-green leaves, a principal ornament of the collection. 
ata 
REFERENCES. 
1. Intire flower. 
2, Exterior limb of corolla. 
3. Upper lip of interior limb, or filament and anther. 
4, The anther, with its bicalcarate appendage, magnified. 
5. Germen and processes, style and stigma. 
6. Lower lip. 
