N. 0. SCITAMINE/E. 1249 



Resembles C. Zedoaria, Rose., but differs widely in the 

 colour of the root. Roots toe k ovoid, sessile, large, tubers pale- 

 grey inside. Petiole long, green. Leafy tuft about 3ft. 

 Leaves large, oblong, with a broad purple-brown cloud down 

 the middle, blade l-l|ft. by 5-6in., glabrous beneath. Spike 

 produced dense 5-6 by 2£-3in. diam. ; flower bracts green, 

 ovate, very obtuse, l|in.; bracts of the coma rather longer, many, 

 bright red. Flowers pale-yellow, rather shorter than the bracts. 

 Corolla limb red. Lip Jin. broad obscurely 3-lobed mid-lobe 

 emarginate. (J. G. Baker.) 



Uses : — It is considered to have nearly the same medicinal 

 properties as C. Zedoaria. The Turkomans employ these roots 

 as a rubefacient, to rub their bodies down with after taking a 

 Turkish bath. (Aitchison.) In Bengal, it is used in the fresh 

 state like turmeric. 



1235. C. amada, Roxb., h.f.b.i., vi. 213. Roxb., 

 12. 



Vern. : — Ama-haldi (H.) ; Am-ada (B.) ; Amba-halada (Mar,) ; 

 Amki-adrak (Dec.) ; Mamidi-allam (Tel.); Kajura gauri (Bomb.). 



Rabitat : — Bengal and the Concans native, and widely culti- 

 vated under the name of Mango ginger. 



An annual. Rootstock large ovoid ; sessile tubers thick, 

 cylindric deep or pale-orange when mature, not pale-yellow. 

 Leafy tuft 2-3ft. Petiole as long as the blade which is l-l|ft. 

 by 6in. or more in breadth, plain green tapering gradually 

 to the base and apex. The form of the leaf is at times oblong- 

 lanceolate as described by some Botanists. Peduncle |ft. or 

 more hidden by the sheathing base of the leaves. Spike autumn- 

 al, 3-6in. by ljin. diam. ; flower bracts about lin. pale-green ; 

 those of the coma-tinged pink. Flowers pale-yellow, about as 

 long as the bracts. Corolla whitish. Lip pale-yellow. 



Uses:- -The rhizomes are regarded as cooling and useful 

 in prurigo. They are also employed as carminative and 

 stomachic. Locally applied over contusions and sprains. Roots 



are expectorant and astringent, useful in diarrhoea and gleet. 

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