328 _. BANANA FAMILY. 



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

 down the front but nearly closed ; fl. spring. 



■>- -t- East Indian species of tlie conservatori/, with several thick and firm keeled 

 leaves in 2 ranks at the root : sac hanging ^ largely open at top. 



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

 with some greenish and purple-spotted. 



G. vemlstum, with more fleshy oblong-strap-shapcd mottled and spotted 

 leaves, and purplish flower with some green and yellow. 



118. SCITAMINE^, BANANA FAMILY. 



Here is assembled a group of tropical or subtropical plants, with 

 leaves having distinct petiole and blade, the latter traversed by 

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

 with a perianth of at least two ranks of divisions, below all combined 

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

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

 representatives on our southeastern 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^ehlum Gardneri&nam, Gaeland-Flower, cult, from India : 

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

 in a large 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 fllament terminated by a yellow anther sheathing the style 

 up almost to the stigma. 



IL 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. 



ThMia 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 ofsmall much-bracted purple flowers. 



MarS,nta zebrlna, rai-ely 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 ludica, 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' long, red, 

 rarving 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. 



p. Warszewiczii, 4° -.5° high, with mostly purplish or purple-margined 

 pointed leaves, and crimson-red flowers. 



