328 BANANA FAMILT. 



linear, shorter than the rose-purple oblong-obovate drooping sac, which is split 

 down the front but nearly closed : fl. spring. 



-I- ■*- East Indian species of the conservator//, with several thick and firm keeled 

 itases in 2 ranks at the root : sac flanging, iaryeli/ open at top. 



C. insigne, has linear strap-shaped cartilaginous leaves, and yellow flower 

 with some greenish and purple-spotted. 



C. ventiistum, with more fleshy oblong-strap-shaped mottled and spotted 

 leaves, and purplish flower with some green and yellow. 



118. SCITAMINE.ZE, BANANA FAMILY. 



Here is assembled a group of tropical xjr subtropical plantis, with 

 leaves having distinct petiole and blade, the latter traversed by 

 nerves running from the midrib to the margin ; flowers irregular, 

 with a perianth of at least two ranks of divi.«ions, below all combined 

 into a tube which is adherent to the 3-celled ovary ; the stamen? 

 1-6 and distinct. We have only two, by no means common, wild 

 representatives on our soutLeastern borders ; the cultivated ones 

 are chiefly grown for their ornamental foliage, and mo-t of them are 

 rarely seen in blossom. They may therefore be simply referred to, 

 as follows. ' 



I. GINGER FAMILY. Seeds, rootstocks, or roots hot-aro- 

 matic. Stamen only one, with a 2-celled anther, commonly em- 

 bracing the style, but not united with it. 



Hed^ehium Gardneritoam, Garland-Flower, cult, from India : 

 stems 3° -4° high, furnished to the top with oblong 2-ranked leaves, terminating 

 in a lai'ge spike of handsome light-yellow flowers, a slender tube bearing 6 

 divisions which may be likened to those of an Orchideous flower, one (answer- 

 ing to the lip) much larger and broader than the 5 others, and a very long 

 protruding reddish filament terminated by a yellow anther sheathing the stj-le 

 up almost to the stigma. 



II. ARROWROOT or INDIAN-SHOT FAMILY. No hot- 

 aromatic properties, the thick rootstocks, &c., commonly contain 

 much starch, from which genuine arrowroot is produced. Stamen 

 only one with an anther, and that one-celled. 



Thillia dealb^ta, wild in marshes and ponds far S., is dusted over with a 

 white powder, the heart-ovate long-petioled leaves all from the root, reed-like 

 scape branching above into panicled spikes of small much-bracted purple flowers. 



Mar&nta zebrlna, rarely flowers, but is a showy leaf-plant in conserva- 

 tories ; the oblong leaves 2 or 3 feet long, purple beneath, the upper surface 

 satiny and with alternating stripes of deep and pale green ; flowers dull purple, 

 inconspicuous, in a bracted head or spike near the ground on a short scape. 



C&nna Indica, Common Indian Shot (so called from the hard shot- 

 like seeds, these several in the 3 cells of the rough-walled pod) : frequently 

 planted for summer flowering ; the lance-ovate or oblong pointed leaves 6' -12' 

 long ; flowers several in a simple or branching spike, about 2' loivg, red, 

 varying to yellow, or variegated ; stamen with petal-like filament bearing the 

 anther on one side, otherwise resembling the 3 divisions of an inner corolla, 

 these probably transformed sterile stamens. — The following, more magnificent 

 for summer foliage,, and sometimes for flowers, are choicer sorts, but much 

 confused as to species. 



C. Warszewiczii, 4° -.5° high, with mos,tly purplish or purple-margined 

 pointed leaves, and crimson-red flowers. 



