MClKANDROUS PLANTS. SfS 



tlierefrom, which dip deep into the soil. Their stems are at least biennial, 

 invested iii the sheaths of the bifarious leaves. The hiflorescerice uniformly 

 radical spikes, rather loosely imbricated ;' with' bne-fiowered bra6les ; and 

 either a horrllet, or glandular enlargement, between the base of the 

 filament, and insertion of the lip, as in most of the Alpinias. The cap«- 

 sules are 3-celled, 3-valved, and contain many seeds, enveloped, while 

 recent, in a soft gelatinous aril, which vanishes, or is scarce discernible 

 when dry. The embryo- subclavate, and furnished with both a perispermj 

 4nd vitellus. 



f. Amomum Cardamomum. Linn, sp.pl.ed. Wili'd. \. 8: 



Leaves short-petioled, lanceolar. Spikes even with the eartli, lax. Braetes 

 lanceolate, acute. Lip with anterior margin 3-lobed. Crest 3-lobed. 

 Cardamomum minus. RumpJi. dmd. 5. t. 6b. f. I. 



A NATIVE of the IVfalay Islands; from Sumatra Dr. Charies CAriip- 

 tthi. sent plants to this gardien. Where they blossom during the month of 

 May, just before the' rains begin. To the taste the seeds are agreeably 

 aromatic, and are used' by the Malays as a substitute for the real CardamomJ 

 M ^M-alabar:- 



2'. Atsiomvm aJigustifolium. Linn, sp.pl.ed. Willd. 1. 8. 



Leaves broad-^lanceolate; Spikes elevated, linear-oblong. Bractes ob- 

 long, rather pointed. Lip obovate-cuneate, eritire. Grest three-ioothed. 

 Amomum angustifolium. Sonnerat's voyage. 2.' 242. i. 137. 



A NATIVE of Madagascar. From the Mauritius Captain Tennent 

 brought it to this garden, where it blossoms during the cool season. The 

 flowers possess a considerable share of spicy fragrance, and are showy ; 

 the- exterior border of the corolla and superior brakes being red, and 

 the large lip yellow. 



