628 MEDICAL BOTANY. 



varieties, but they differ in several important characteristics ; thus, in the latter 

 the male flowers are permanent, whilst they are caducous in the former ; the 

 form of the fruit also is different. Ainslie states that Hindoo practitioners 

 are of opinion that the Banana forms the most appropriate diet for invalids 

 suffering from a redundance of bile, and heat of system. 



Another species, M. textilis, is much prized for the fibres of its stem, 

 which are very strong, and are known under the name of Manilla Hemp. 

 This species bears a small fruit, which is furnished with seeds. Captain 

 Wilkes (Explor. Ex. v. 288) says : " The fibre is derived from the stem, and 

 the plant attains the height of fifteen or twenty feet. The usual mode of 

 preparing the hemp is to cut off the stem near the ground, before the time, 

 or just when the fruit is ripe. The stem is then eight or ten feet long below the 

 leaves, where it is again cut. The outer coating of the herbaceous stem is 

 then stripped off, until the fibres or cellular parts are seen, when it undergoes 

 the process of rotting, and after being well dried in houses and sheds, it is 

 prepared for market, by assorting it, a task which is performed by the 

 women and children. That intended for cloth is soaked for an hour or two 

 in weak lime water, prepared from sea-shells, and again dried." 



The young shoots of all these species are eaten as a delicate food, as are 

 also the root of Heliconia psittacorum, and the seeds of Urania speciosa ; 

 the pulpy arillus of this latter is of a brilliant blue colour, and yields an 

 essential oil. 



Order 111.— ZINGIBER ACEM.— Richard. 



Calyx superior, tubular, 3-lobed, short. Corolla tubular, irregular, with 6 segments in 

 two whorls ; the external one 3-parted, nearly equal, or with the odd segment sometimes- 

 differently shaped ; the internal row (sterile stamens) 3-parted, with the odd one (label- 

 lum) larger than the others and often 3-lobed. Stamens 3, distinct, two of which are 

 abortive, and one only fertile ; this is opposite the labellum, and is inserted at the base of 

 the middle segment of the true corolla. Filament often projecting beyond the anther, not 

 petaloid. Anther 2-celled, with a longitudinal dehiscence ; its lobes often surrounding 

 the upper part of the style. Pollen globose and smooth. Ovary 3-celled. Ovules several, 

 anatropal, attached to an axile placenta. Style filiform, with a dilated hollow stigma. 

 Fruit generally capsular, 3-celled, many-seeded, sometimes berried. Seeds roundish or 

 angular, with or without an arillus. Albumen mealy. Embryo in a vitellus. 



These plants are all herbaceous and aromatic, peculiar to tropical climates, 

 with creeping, and often jointed rhizomes ; their stems are formed of the co- 

 hering bases of the leaves, Which are simple and sheathing, with the nervures 

 of their leaves diverging from* a midrib. Many of them are employed in 

 medicine as stimulants and carminatives, and a still greater number as con- 

 diments in warm climates. 



Zinziber. — Linn. 



Corolla with outer limb 3-parted, inner 1-lipped. Filament projecting beyond the an- 

 ther in a simple incurved beak. Capsule 3-seeded, 3-vaIved. Seeds numerous, arillate. 



A genus of tropical plants, having tuberous, jointed, creeping rhizomes, 

 with annual stems, enclosed in the sheaths of distichous leaves, which latter 

 are membranous. The flowers are in conical, radical, rarely terminal, 

 solitary spikes, consisting of 1-flowered imbricated bracts. All the species 

 are aromatic, and stimulant, but only one is recognised as officinal in the 

 U. S. Pharmacopoeia. 



