23 



-MADAGASCAR ARROWROOT. 

 Nat. Oed. — Taccaceae. 

 Tacca pinnatifida. 



Some years ago a specimen, marked Mada- 

 gascar Arrowroot, was placed in my hands by 

 Mr. W. T. Suffolk. On comparing it with a 

 specimen of Starch from Tacca pinnatifida, 

 kindly sent to me by Mr. Jackson, of Kew, it at 

 once became evident that it was obtained from 

 that plant or an allied species. 



The type of the starch granule is quite 

 different from that of the Marantacece, many of 

 the granules being what may be called muUer- 

 shaped, with a prominent hilum. The concentric 

 rings are fairly distinct. I have not heard of the 

 Starch as a commercial article of late years, 

 although it would appear probable, now that 

 Madagascar is advancing in civilization and 

 commercial importance, that it may be again 

 introduced. 



It may here be noted that the peculiar 

 muUer-shaped Starch granule is with the excep- 

 tion of Tapioca peculiar to the Monocotyledonous 

 plants of tropical countries. 



