MONANDROU)S PLANTS. 229 



5, CURCUMA. 



Gen. Char. Coro/f« with both -borders three-parted. Anther douh]e, hscse hi- 

 caicarate. Capsule 3-ce\\ed. S(?t'rf numerous, arilled. 



The plants of this genus, are the most easily distinguished of all the 

 ScUamineaii tribe ; Globba not excepted. The exact uniformity of the 

 double, crestless, caicarate anther, is alone a sufficient mark to know them 

 by. But unfortunately, this uncommonly great similarity extends to al- 

 most every other part ; which renders it so difficult to distinguish the 

 species,* that without the aid of colour, I should despair of making their 

 specific chara6i:ers discriminative. From daily habit I find no difficulty 

 in recognizing them, yet it is by no means easy to find words that will 

 convey that knowledge to others. 



GEJVERAL DESCRIPTION. 



In this family, as well as in the other herbaceous genera, the root is bien- 

 nial, and consists of what I shall call Bulbs, Tubers, and Fibres. The 

 former are, during the first year, like other bulbs, formed in the centre 

 of the bases of the sheaths of the leaves ; and may, during this period, be 

 called phyllophorous receptacles. These 6^^/65 have on their opposite sides, 

 a vertical row of buds, corresponding with the number of the bifarious 

 leaves, and sheaths, (there being one in the axil of each,) which grew on 

 the bulb. From these buds, or eyes, issue the palmate tubers, which pro- 

 ceed nearly horizontal, in opposite dire6lions, and branch out, more or 

 less, according to the nature of the plant, &c. From the lower part of the 

 bulbs, the fibres, or genuine roots, chiefly spring; these are strong, thick, 

 long fibres, with numerous small fibrils from their sides; penetrate deep 



* I say species, because their disf^gfeements, pr marks by wbich I sbaU attempt totjiscrirai- 

 nate them, uMc, so far as my expc.-icnce goes, invariable ; continuing unchanged year after year. 



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