SECT. II 



PHANEROGAMIA 



485 



TONGUE-SHAPED LEAE, the LABELLUM; the outer whorl of stamens 

 staminodial or absent (Figs. 428, 429). 



The members of this family are herbs, with rhizomes which contain 

 an ethereal oil in special oil-cells, giving them a penetrating aroma. 

 The flowers are aggregated in inflorescences of various types, and 



Fig. 429. — Zingiber officinale. A, Entire plant ($ uat. size) ; B, flower ; C, labellum ; 

 D, transverse section of ovary. — Officinal. (After Behg and Schmidt.) 



are usually large and highly coloured. The splendour of their 

 appearance is due to the prominent position taken by the labellum 

 (Fig. 429, B, (J), which is considerably larger than the leaves of 

 the perianth. Although the stamens of the outer whorl are usually 

 wanting or have the form of inconspicuous staminodia, in less 

 frequent cases they are also represented by petaloid staminodia- 



