1598 CXXVIII. SCITAMINEiE. [Musa. 



clavafce, with a concave stigma. Fruit oblong or cylindrical, often curved, more 

 or less succulent and indehiscent. Seeds numerous, with a coriaceous testa and 

 a broad concave hiluni ; albumen copious, nieally or almost granular. — Tall often 

 almost tree-like herbs, the convolute sheaths of their very long large leaves form- 

 ing a stem of considerable height. Scapes protruding from the centre of the 

 leaf-sheath. Flowers clustered in the axils of large coloured bracts, forming a 

 long terminal spike or raceme, either drooping or erect. 



The genus is limited to the tropical regions of the Old World. The Australian species are 

 endemic. 



Panicle drooping. J?ruit cylindrical, 4 to Sin. long 1. M. Banksii. 



Panicle drooping. Fruit oblong-ellipsoid, 2 to 3in. long 2. M. Fitzalani. 



Panicle erect. Fruit oval, angular, 2in. long Z. M. Hillii. 



1. IKE. Banksii (after Sir Joseph Banks), F. v. M. Fragin. iv. 132 ; Benth. 

 Fl. Auatr. vi. 261. "Morgogaba," Cleveland Bay, Thozet. Stem cylindric of 

 moderate size, stoloniferous. Leaves oblong, 5 or 6ft. long, 1 J to 2ft. broad, on a 

 petiole of 1^ to 2ft. Panicle drooping, upper bracts oblong, rather obtuse, 3 to 

 4in. long, a few of the lower ones much longer and acuminate. Flowers from 10 

 to 20 within each bract, on short pedicels. Male perianth conspicuously striate 

 with numerous parallel longitudinal veins, the outer convolute segment or calyx 

 about IJin. long and 5 lines broad if spread open, shortly 5-lobed, the 3 outer 

 lobes lanceolate, about 2 lines long, the 2 inner ones oblong and rather shorter ; 

 the lower inner segment or petal 4 or 5 lines long and at least 3 lines broad, 

 striate like the outer one, but with a prominent midrib produced into a rather 

 long point beyond the segment. Stamens nearly as long as the outer segment. 

 Ovary rudimentary, with a style about as long as the stamens, slightly clavate at 

 the end. Female flowers with an ovary of nearly fin. Outer perianth segment 

 under lin. long, the outer lobes narrower and more acute than in the males, 

 the inner lobes linear ; lower inner segment or petal narrow-lanceolate, above ^in. 

 long. Anthers linear but smaller than in the males. Style rather shorter than 

 the outer perianth-segment, thickly clavate towards the end with a large concave 

 oblique unequally lobed stigma Fruits in bunches of 12 to 20, each one on a 

 stipes of 1 to 2in., cylindrical, straight or slightly incurved, 4 to Sin. long, ^ to 

 ■fin. diameter. Seeds about 2 lines diameter, irregularly angular from pressure ; 

 testa coriaceous, marked with a broad concave hilum ; albumen very white nearly 

 almost granular. — J. G. Baker. Ann. Bot. vii. 217 ; also Kew Bull. (1894). 



Hab. : Not uncommon in the tropical scrubs. 



2. M. Fitzalani (after E. Fitzalan) ; F. v. M. Frarjm. ix. 188. Stem 

 cylindric, robust, green, about 20ft. high. Leaves patent, oblong, 10 to 

 12ft. long and often 2 ft. broad. Panicle drooping. The fascicles rather distant. 

 Flowers 7 to 10 to each bract. Bracts to the male flowers 2 to Sin. long, 1 to 

 IJin. broad. Perianth about lin. long, segments all conspicuously striate. 

 Stamens as long or slightly longer than the segments. Anthers obtuse, 2^ to 

 3J lines long. Style sterile long as the stamens. Female flowers unknown. 

 Fruit oblong-ellipsoid, yellowish, angular, 2 to 3in. long, narrowed suddenly to a 

 thick pedicel, about ^in. long. Seeds depressed, angular, scarcely exceeding in 

 diameter 2 lines. — J. G. Baker, Ann. Bot. vii. 217, also Kew Bull. (1894). 



Hab.r Daintree Eiver, E. Fitzalan (F. v. M.) 



3. Wl. Hillii (after Walter Hill), F. v. M. Fragm. ix. 169 and 190. Stem 

 attaining 30ft. in height, and ISin. in diameter at the base, not stoloniferous, 

 cylindric. Leaves attaining 15ft. in length, base cuneate, the petiole long. 

 Peduncle 3in. in diameter. Panicle erect 3 to 4ft. high, cylindric. Bracts 6in. 

 long or more, ovate, obtuse, pale yellowish-green, with a brown tip. Male 

 flowers not numerous to each bract. Perianth IJin. long, narrow, slightly curved. 



