CURCUMA LATIFOLIA. 
MONANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
SECT. II. SCITAMINER. 
Gey. Cuar.—Anther double, embracing the style, bicalcarate at the base ; filament petal-like, in three segments, the. 
central segment bearing the anther ; lip ovate; capsule three-celled. 
Sprc. Cuar.—Spike lateral; stem and petioles green; leaves broad-lanceolate, equilateral, pubescent beneath, a 
purple cloud down. the middle on the upper surface, 
which frequently appears also on the under 
side; outer limb of the corolla a pale, 
greenish yellow, or straw-colour ; lip yellow, with two or 
three brown. lines down the centre; coma pale crimson or pink. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Flowering bulb large, ovate ; palmate tubers very few, pale yellow within; pendulous tubers somewhat pear- 
shaped, and connected to the bulb by strong fibrous cords; stem and petioles green ; leaves broad-lanceolate, strongly 
nerved, 3—4 feet long, by 12-15 inches broad, smooth on the upper surface, sericeous or pubescent beneath, with a 
strong purple cloud the whole length of the leaf, reflected through to the under side ; petioles long and channeled, 
sheathing the stem at their base ; the whole plant from 8 to 12 feet high; spike radical, rising up before the leaves ; 
inflorescence 6—8 inches long; outer bractes broad, ovate, pointed, striated, green, attached to the rachis in such a 
manner as to form a small cistern, or cup, which is generally filled with pure water by distillation from the plant, 
and is probably essential to the growth of the flowers, which spring from the base of those reservoirs; inner 
bractes ovate, smooth, membranaceous, one to each flower; from 3 to 4 flowers in each fascicle ; coma large, bright 
pink or crimson; corolla ringent ; calyx tubular, inflated, three-toothed, embracing the tube of the corolla half its 
length, scattered with fine hairs; outer limb in three segments, two lateral segments equal, ovate, lanceolate, the 
upper or middle one rather longer, mucronate, vaulted over the organs of fructification, a small tuft of white hairs 
at the apex; inner limb or lip broad, ovate, slightly lobed, reflected, yellow, with a few brown lines down the 
centre; filament forming the upper lip, in three segments, the central one antheriferous, the lateral ones or wings 
petal-like, erect, converging; anther short, compressed, two-lobed, bicalcarate, embracing the style ; germen ovate, 
hairy, three-celled; style slender, tubular, supported by the germinal processes ; stigma cup-shaped, extending a little 
beyond the anther. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
This most stately species of Curcuma, now for the first time published, and to which we have given the name 
of latifolia, does not appear to be described among the seventeen species enumerated in the Flora Indica, nor in any 
other work with which we are acquainted. It was introduced into the Botanic Garden at Liverpool, under the name 
of C. comosa ; but differs so materially from that species in many important particulars, that it is impossible to 
reconcile them. Of these it may be sufficient to state, that in C. comosa the leaves are “ smooth and green in every 
os ae those that appear first in the season, which neve: a faint ferragipous cloud oo the centre of the 
upper surface beyond the middle,” ( Flor. Ind. vol. i. p. 30,) but in the latifolia the poke are sericeous beneath, and 
are marked the whole length of the leaf down the middle, with a deep purple cloud wBee eee through to the 
under side of the leaf, In the comosa the fertile bractes are described as of “ a beautiful pale pink, and the upper 
ones cf a deep lively rosy red;” but in the latifolia the lower or fertile bractes are green, and ine upper ones : 
A. still stronger distinction occurs in the exterior border of the corolla, which in the comosa is 
ink colour. : 
: d, but in the latifolia is a pale yellow or straw colour. In order to give their due weight to these remarks, 
red, but in the 
