GLOBBA MARANTINA. 
MONANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
mc cee se 
SECT. II. SCITAMINER. 
Gen. Cuar.—Anther double, embracing the style; filament long, flexile, with a membranous appendage at the 
apex. 
Spec. Cuar.—Inflorescence terminal; spike imbricate ; appendage of the filament bilunate, or 4-lobed; leaves 
broad-lanceolate, ineequilateral; bractes frequently producing viviparous bulbs. 
Syv.—Globba marantina. Lin. Mant. ii. 170. Willd. i. 153. 
Colebrookia bulbifera. Rowh. Don. Cat. Hort. Cant. 
Globba marantina. Smith, Evot. Bot. p. 85. fig. 103. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Roots tuberous, fusiform, spreading, stem 1-2 feet high; leaves alternate, broad-lanceolate-acute, sessile, 
smooth above and downy beneath ; spike terminal, erect; outer bractes alternate, laxly imbricated, one-flowered, 
broad-ovate, acute, ribbed, downy; inner bracte small, membranous, acute; flowers erect ;_ calyx tubular, three-cleft 
at the apex, yellow; corolla tubular, very long, with a double border or limb; outer limb in three equal acute 
lobes; interior limb of three unequal segments, two of them nearly resembling those of the outer limb; the third, 
or lip, larger than the rest, vertical, slightly cloven at the apex, and expanding below into two broad lobes; the 
whole flower of a bright orange colour, flaccid, and remaining only a few hours; filament very long, linear, 
grooved, embracing the style, which frequently escapes, and hangs in a loose thread; anther placed at the extremity 
of the filament, supported on an appendage resembling two crescents attached to each other at the back, and 
terminating in four acute points; style tubular, filiform, projecting a little beyond the anther; stigma a small 
ciliated cup. OBSERVATIONS. 
The name of Globba, adopted from Rumphius, has been indiscriminately applied to several plants of the 
Scitaminean tribe. Even Linnzus himself, whilst he adopted the name, and had undoubtedly seen the present 
species, mistook its character, and placed it in his class of Diandria. For the elucidation of this subject, we 
are indebted to Sir J. H. Smith, whose correction of this genus, which has perplexed several eminent botanists, 
is thus referred to by Dr. Roxburgh. “It is to Dr. Smith, who found the original specimen of Globba Marantina 
in the Linnean Herbarium, that we are obliged for detecting and correcting this error, in his description of the 
plant in his Exotic Botany. The same plant I had, till this discovery was made known, considered to belong to an 
undescribed genus, which I called Colebrookia, in honour of our President, whose knowledge of botany, and the 
benefit the science has derived from his help, justly entitle him to this distinction, which by all true botanists is 
considered the highest reward, and more lasting than onan a monument of marble or brass; and I also take this 
opportunity of thanking Dr. Smith for having (in consequence of his discovering that my Colebrookia bulbifera was 
Globba marantina of Linnzeus) transferred that name to another genus of ast Indian plants.” Roxb. Descrip. of 
Monandrous Plants, in As. Res. xi. 357. 
In consequence of these elucidations, the Hura Siamensium of Koenig, Retz. Obs. fas. 3. 40, a plant which has 
long employed the conjectures of botanical students, is found to be a species of this genus, nearly allied to Globba 
marantina; and the whole species of Globba are as accurately defined as any in the whole vegetable system. 
REFERENCES. 
. Intire flower, showing the germen, calyx, corolla, filament, anther and stigma. 
A viviparous bulb, frequently produced instead of a flower. 
Germen, with its processes, style and stigma. 
Filament detached, with its terminal appendages. 
Pepe 
WD ! 
Calyx. 
Inner bracte. 
Outer bracte. 
