: " MONANDROUS PLANTS. .335 



Leaves lanceolar, petioled, a deep ferruginous-purple cloud down the 

 middle, which penetrates tq the under side; everj other part gre(?n. 



Nilkunth'ha; or Ka^a-haldi, of the Bengales£. ' -' --^ 



Tomon-itam, Bumph. amh. 5. p. 169. 



A SMALL species, a native of Bengal, where it blossoms in May; soon 

 after the leaves make their appearance. Theinwai^d colour of the root, 

 more or less blue, as the vemacul'arriame implies yand the deep ferrugl-i 

 nous purple stripe, down the centre of the leaves, are marks sufficiently 

 strong to know it by. The petioles, and sheaths are green, the scapes 

 lateral; the fertile bractes feri*uginous green ; the coma a deep lively pur^- 

 ple; the exterior ' border of the corolla is also purple; and the interior 

 yellow. 



Note by Dr, Carey. . , . 



The Hindus bruise the roots and apply them to remoTC pain or swelling of the joiuts. 



Curcuma aeruginosa. R. 



Bulbs ovate, and with the numerous incurved palmate tubers inwardly 

 aeruginous. Leaves petioled, broad- lanceolar, above the middle a faint pur- 

 ple, evanescent cloud on the upper surface onlj ; every other part green. 



A VERY stately sepcles ; introduced into this garden from Pegu^ by 

 Dr. Carey. Here it blossoms in May, immediately after the leaved 

 appear. It is distinguished from all other Curcumas, by the internal <eru- 

 ginous colour of the bulbs, and palmate tubers ; while its numerous, pen- 

 dulous, oval tubers are "inwardly of a pale pearl colour. The comose 

 lateral spike, is in this, as in the other species. The exterior border of 

 the corolla rose-coloui^ed ; the interior deep yellow. The smooth leaves 

 are from 2 to 3 feet long, their petioles, and sheaths about as much, ma- 

 king the whole height from 4 to 6 feet. 



