Amomum.] CXXVIII. SCITAMINE^. 1595 



clavate at the end, with a concave stigma. Fruit succulent or opening in 

 3 valves. Seeds arillate. — Herbs with creeping rhizomes. Leaves on barren 

 stems often several feet high. Flowering scapes short, with sheathing scales. 

 Spike short, with broad imbricate bracts. Flowers usually large, one within 

 each bract. 



The genus is widely spread over the tropical regions of both the New and ;the Old World. 

 The Australian species are endemic. 



1. A.. Ballachyi (after J. Dallachy), F. v. M. Fragm. viii. 25 ; Bcnth. Fl. 

 Austr. vi. 263. " To-choon," Mount Cook, Both. Leaves lanceolate, narrow- 

 pointed, often above 1ft. long and nearly 2in. broad. Scapes very short. Bracts 

 shorter than the calyx, a few larger ones at the base of the spike, the largest l|in. 

 long. Calyx about lin. long, membranous, striate-veined, shortly 3-toothed. 

 Corolla yellow, the lobes about an inch long and rather longer than the tube, the 

 dorsal one broadly ovate, the lateral ones oblong. Labellum as long as the 

 corolla, fin. broad, orbicular, contracted at the base, shortly and obtusely 3-lobed, 

 thickened along the centre. Middle lobe of the connective-appendage shorter 

 than the lateral ones. Capsule green, about lin. in diameter, numerous in the 

 spike or head, more or less succulent, nearly globular, unequally muricate, 

 tardily opening in 3 valves. Seeds rather numerous. 



Hab.: Eo;kinghani Bay, Dallachy ; also in many other tropical localities. 

 Boots eaten. — Both, I.e. 



5. ELETTARIA, White. 

 (From Elettari, the Malabar name.) 



Calyx tubular, 2 or 3-toothed. Corolla-limb 3-lobed, shorter than the slender 

 tube, without inner lobes. Labellum large, flat, entire or lobed. Filament flat, 

 but the connective not produced beyond the anther-cells ; anther-cells embracing 

 the style. Two small linear staminodes at the base of the style. Ovary 3-celled. 

 Style filiform, clavate at the end, with a concave stigma. Fruit succulent or 

 opening in 3 valves. Seeds arillate. — Herbs with the habit of Aniomum, but 

 usually more slender, with smaller flowers, fewer in a looser spike. 



The genus extends over tropical Asia, the Australian species endemic. 



1. E. Scottiana (after W. J. Scott), F. v. M. hragm. viii. 24 ; Benth. Fl. 

 Austr. vi. 264. " Jiddo," Bloomfield River, Roth ; " Bija," Johnstone River, 

 W. C. Harding. Rhizome woody, the leafy stems attaining 12ft. or more. 

 Leaves lanceolate. If to 2ft. long and 8 to 4in. broad in the middle. Scapes 

 2 or 3in. long, with imbricate sheathing scales, passing into involucral bracts of 

 about 2in., silky-pubescent outside, glabrous and pinkish inside. Bracts under 

 «ach flower membranous, pellucid, 2 to Sin. long. Calyx the length of the 

 bracts. Corolla-tube 3 to 4in. long, very slender, the lobes red, nearly equal, 

 oblong, at least ^in. long. Labellum rather longer than the corolla-lobes, ovate, 

 entire. Connective not extending beyond the apex of the anther-cells. Capsule 

 ovate or ellipsoid, opening tardily in 8 valves. Seeds numerous. 



Hab.: Rockingham Bay, DaZZac7j!/ ; and many other tropical locolities. 



J?ruit eaten raw. — Roth. 



6. COSTUS, Linn. 

 (Derived from the Arabic.) 



Flowers hermaphrodite. Calyx tubular, shortly 3-lobed. Corolla-tube short, 

 the limb with 3 erect lobes. Labellum convolute, erect, usually large. Filament 

 broad and petal-like, continuous with the connective and produced laterally and 

 beyond the cells into a, broad appendagei No staminodes. Ovary 8-celled, with 



