CURCUMA ZEDOARIA. 
MONANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
SECT. II. SCITAMINES. 
Gey. Cuar.—Anther double, embracing the style, bicalcarate at the base ; filament petal-like, in three segments, 
the central segment bearing the anther ; capsule three-celled ; seeds numerous. 
Srec. Cuar.—Spike lateral; stem and petioles green; leaves linear-lanceolate, inaequilateral, smooth on both sides, 
a purple cloud down the middle on the upper surface, a fainter cloud on each side the mid-rib 
below; outer limb of the corolla straw-colour ; lip ovate, emarginate, yellow towards the apex. 
Syy.—Rheede Hort. Mal. v. xi. p.17. tab. 7. Kua. 
Rumph. Amb. v. 5. tab. 68. 
Amomum. Zerumbet. Konig. in Retz. Obs. 3, 55. : 
Curcuma Zerumbet. Roab. in Asiat. Res. v. xi. 333, and Flor. Ind. 1, 20. 
Curcuma Zerumbet. Pl. Corom. No. 201.. 
Curcuma, Zedoaria. Bot. Mag. No. 1546.. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Bulb conical, striated; palmate tubers thick, fleshy, pale-yellow within ; radical tubers suspended by strong 
fibres, ovate or pear-shaped, white within, farinaceous, almost inodorous; stem rising from the radical bulb, 
intirely green, but paler towards the root ; plant four feet high; leaves linear-lanceolate, 1-2 feet long, intire, 
smooth on both sides, clouded with a purple streak down the middle on the upper surface, and a fainter streak 
on each side the mid-rib below; inflorescence radical, rising distinct from, and gencrally before the leaves; spike 
formed by a succession of broad ovate imbricated bractes, pale green tinged with red in the margin, each bearing 
several flowers which open in succession.; the upper bractes sterile, white, or pale straw colour, terminating in bright 
pink, and forming the coma of the plant; calyx superior, about one-third the length of the corclla, membranous, 
irregularly three-toothed ; corolla with a double border; outer limb in three pale straw-coloured segments, the 
middle segment the largest,, mucronate, hooded over the anther, the two lower segments equal, lanceolate, intire ; 
inner limb in two divisions,, the upper division or filament in three sections, the central one bearing the anther, 
the lateral ones converging and protecting it; lower division, or lip, broad-ovate, yellow, and slightly bifid at 
the apex; anther spurred, embracing the style, which rises between the germinal processes, and extends a little 
beyond the anther, terminating in a. compressed, ciliated,, cup-like stigma; germen downy; three-celled. 
OBSERVATIONS.. 
The species of Curcuma, as far as they were then known in England, have been well distinguished by 
Mr. Salisbury, in his Paradisus Londinensis, published in 1807. These were, 1. C. Longa, figured in Jacquin, 
Pre nr aabonenin es. The true Zedoary, accurately distinguished by Father Kamel, the leaves of which are 
smooth, with a large p urple cloud on their upper surface. 3. A plant with smooth leaves, the petioles of which 
Brearcrdntk purple (Cureuma Rubescens.) And, 4. The plant (figured by Salisbury,) with leaves intirely green, and 
ae Weneaiiwand which he named Aromatica. By a singular transposition, Dr. Roxburgh has, however, in his 
Description of Monandrous Plants, published in Asiat. Researches (vide vol. xi. 332,) given the name of Zedoaria to 
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