MONANDROUS PLANTS. 339 



Sec. and is eaten by the natives. In this garden there is another species, 

 or variety, received from Travencore, which has not yet flowered. In that 

 country the natives prepare a very beautiful pure starch from its pendulous 

 tubers, like that of Maranta arundinacea, (Arrow-root,) and Tacca pin- 

 natijida, which forms a very considerable part of their diet. It is more 

 than probable that all those pendulous tubers, so common in this genus, 

 abound in a similar fecula. 



, CURCUMA ANGUSTIFOLIA. 



From the tubers of the root of this plant and of Curcuma Leucorhha^ Tikhur, a sort of starch 

 or flour like arrow root, is prepared by a very simple process. The Kherwars, one of the tribes 

 lOf mountaineers inhabiting the forests of the P'ind''kya mountains, use the following method, accor- 

 ding to the information which I received when traversing those forests. The roots are ground, and 

 water is added in considerable quantity. The starch or flour settles at the bottom of the vessel ; and, 

 the water being then poured 08", the starch is dried in the open air. From eight parts by weight of 

 "the root, one part of starch or flour is obtained. It is said to be commonly bartered by the Kher- 

 wars south of the Sone for an equal weight of salt. 



Having reason to believe, that the same sort of starch or flour is also obtained in the district of 

 Chatgaon ; I applied to Mr. Macrae, surgeon at that station, and received very satisfactory infor- 

 mation. The powder obtained at Chatgaon from the roots, is well known by the name of Tikhur ; 

 and the plant itself is there called Phalepa and Cachur. Judging from the specimens of the leaves 

 and roots, which were received from Mr. Macrae, I have little doubt that the plant is allied to 

 this species; and probably belongs to the kindred one C. Leucorhiza. The powder, prepared from 

 the root, is considered hy the natives at Chatgaon as an excellent restorative in cases of coasump> 

 tion] and a preparation of it, in the form of a sweetmeat, is sold in the market. 



I shall only add, on the subject of this nutritious powder, that it is very similar to the powder 

 •Irhich is obtained in America from the roots of Maranta Arundinacea, and which is known in 

 Europe by the name of Indian arrow root; and there is reason to believe, that other plants of the 

 same natural order afford a similar produce. 



In regard to the Asiatic names of the plant, and of its produce, I am unable to add any well 

 ascertained synonyma to the received name of Tikhur. It is unnoticed under this denomination in 

 the works of Hindu and Muhammcd^n writers on the Materia Medica of India: and the name of 

 Cachur i by which the plant is distinguished in Chalgaon, properly belongs to the Zerumbet, 

 (Curcuma Z.) Note hij the Fresidcnt. 



