CURCUMA AERUGINOSA. 
MONANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
et ae 
SECT. II. SCITAMINER. 
Gey. Cuar.—Anther double, embracing the style, bicalcarate at the base; filament petal-like, in three segments, 
middle segment bearing the anther. 
Spec. Cuar.—Spike lateral ; leaves bro 
ad lanceolate, with a purple cloud in the middle of the upper surface, 
not extending to the extremities; exterior limb of the corolla bright crimson ; interior limb yellow ; 
interior of the palmate bulbs an xruginous green colour. 
Syw.—Curcuma eruginosa. Rowh. As. Res. vol. xi. p. 335. Flor. Ind. vol. i. p- 27. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Flowering bulb ovate, with imbricated scales ; palmate tubers numerous, large, eruginous within ; pendulous 
tubers pearl colour within ; leaves broad-lanceolate, smooth on both sides, from 2 to 3 feet long, with sheathing 
petioles; spike lateral, from 8 to 12 inches in height, crowned with a bright rose-coloured coma ; fertile bractes 
large, imbricate, dark green; calyx white, three-toothed, tipt with purple; corolla scarcely longer than the bractes, 
tube short, outer limb in three Segments, crimson, upper segment fornicate, mucronate ; upper lip of the interior 
limb, or filament, in three sections, yellow, the lateral ones erect, converging, the middle one bearing the anther, 
which is double, and bicalearate at the base; lower lip obtusely three-lobed at the apex, yellow; style filiform, 
supported at the base by two subulate diverging processes ; germen villous ; capsule three-celled ; seeds numerous. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
This very stately species was introduced from Burma by the Rev. Dr. Carey, into Bengal, where it blossoms 
in May, immediately after which the leaves begin to appear. Roxb. It is distinguished from all the other species 
of Curcuma by the internal verdigrease-like colour of its palmate tubers. From its late introduction, its peculiar 
qualities have not yet been ascertained. 
The plant from which the present drawing was made, was sent by Dr. Carey to the Botanic Garden in 
Liverpool, where it rose to the height of six feet, and produced two fine spikes of flowers, in the month of 
April 1824. 
REFERENCES. 
. One of the pendulous roots. 
2. Calyx. 
3. Lower lip of interior limb of corolla. 
_ 
4. Exterior limb of corolla. 
. The same expanded. 
. Interior limb seen in front. 
5 
6. 
7. The same seen at the back. 
8. Germen, with its processes, style and stigma. 
9 
The same, showing the position of the style and anther. 
