490 ILLUSTRATIONS OP THE NATURAL ORDERS. 



from a midrib ; the adnate perianth irregular and triple (having a 

 corolla of two series as well as a calyx) ; fertile stamen one, on the 

 anterior side of the flower, free ; the fruit a three-celled capsule or 

 berry ; the seeds several : with the embryo in a little sac at one 

 extremity of the farinaceous albumen. — There are, in fact, six 

 stamens in the androecium, the three exterior petaloid and forming 

 the so-called inner corolla, and two of the inner verticel are sterile. 

 — Their properties and economical uses are well represented by the 

 pungent aromatic rootstock of Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Galin- 

 gate (Alpiuia Galanga, &c.), the seeds of Gardamon, &c. The same 

 cordial qualities in lesser degree exist in the roots of Curcuma 

 longa, &c. which furnish the coloring matter called Turmeric ; while 

 other species yield starch, like the closely allied 



939. Ord. Cannacea; {Arrowroot Family) , which also consists of trop- 

 ical plants, differs from the preceding chiefly in the want of aroma, 

 and in having the single fertile stamen posterior, with a one-celled 

 anther. — - Ex. Maranta arundinacea, which yields the Arrowroot of 

 the- West Indies ; the tubers of which are filled with starch. 



940. Ol'd. MusaceEB {Banana Family). Tropical plants, of which 

 the Banana and Plantain are the type ; distinguished by their 

 simple perianth and five or six perfect stamens. The fruit is an 

 important staple of food in the tropics ; the gigantic leaves are used 

 in thatching ; and the fibres of Musa textilis yield Manilla hemp, as 

 well as a finer fibre from which some of the most delicate India mus- 

 lins are made. 



941. Ol'd. Barmanniacex consists of small, mostly tropical, annual 

 herbs, commonly with a one-celled ovary and three parietal placentte, 

 (but in several the ovary is three-celled) ; differing from Orchidaceas 

 by their regular flowers with three stamens ; and from Iridaceaj by 

 the position of these before the inner divisions of the perianth, the 

 introrse anthers, &c. — ■ Ex. Burmannia and Apteria, of the South- 

 ern States. 



942. Ord. Iridacca; {Iris Family). Perennial herbs ; the flower- 

 stems springing from bulbs, corms, or rhizomas, rarely with fibrous 

 roots, mostly with equitant leaves. Flowers regular or irregular, 

 showy, often springing from a spathe. Perianth with the tube ad- 

 herent to the three-celled ovary, and usually elongated above it ; the 

 limb six-parted, in two series. Stamens three, distinct or monadel- 

 phous ; tlie anthers extrorse ! Stigmas three, dilated or petaloid ! 

 Seeds with hard albumen. — Ex. Iris, Crocus. The rootstocks, 



