S22 DESCRIPTION OF 



form, and generally ciliate. The ^^rm is superior, 3-celled, with numer- 

 ous seeds in each, attached to the axis. This genus, like other plants 

 abounding in other means of extending, or continuing the individual, 

 very rarely ripen their seed ; when they do, the progress is rapid, 

 three or four weeks being the usual time between the flower and seed. 

 The capsule is oval, smooth, pale strav/ colour, thin, and nearly pellucid, 

 3-celled, but there is no regular division into valves. When the seeds are 

 ripe, the elasticity of the segments of the arils bursts the vertex into 

 various portions, from whence the seeds are soon expelled, by the elastic 

 pov/er of the aril. Seeds several in each cell, arilled, shape various, but 

 the most prevailing is oblong. Aril cut to the very base, into several, 

 slender, unequal, white, fleshy segments ; which unite to the seed round 

 the umbilicus. Integumejits two ; exterior spongy, with highly polished, 

 slippery, light brown surface ; zVz^mor membranaceous. Perisperm (albu- 

 men of G/ertner,) pure white, hard, but friable, and occupies the lower 

 half of the seed. Vitellus clearer, but less white, and of a harder, and 

 tougher texture than the albumen, occupying the upper half of the seed, 

 and is particularly fragrant. Embryo length of the seed, tending to bfi 

 clavate. Radicle truncate, resting immediately over the umbilicus. 



Sect. I. Spikes lateral, appearing before or with the leaves. 



Curcuma Zedoaria. H. ■ . 



Bulbs small, and with the long palmate tubers inwardly jellow. 



Leaves broad-Ianceolar, subsessile oil their shcatlis, sericeous uiiderneatb ; 



tlie whole plant green. 

 Atwomiim Zedoaria,. Linn. sp. pi. ed. Willd. L 7. 

 Judwar^ Jed war, or Zed war, of the Arabians. 

 Junigli haldi, or Buu-haldi^ of the Bengalese, 



