172 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



It is in general cultivation throughout the whole of the 

 Eastern tropics, the Polynesian, and most of the Pacific 

 islands. The tubers yield the yellow dye " Turmeric," 

 which is used in cookery for colouring curries, confections, 

 &c. It is greatly used by the natives of the Pacific islands 

 for painting their bodies, which they often do in various 

 colours, imitating the dress of Europeans. 



Galangale (^Kcempferia Galanga). This has tuberous roots, 

 which are used in India as an aromatic stimulant. It is 

 cultivated in hothouses, the flowers making their appearance 

 before the foliage, in a manner analogous to the " Autumn 

 Crocus." 



Grains of Paradise or Malaguetta Pepper (^Amoinum Grana- 

 Paradisi). A native of West Tropical Africa. It throws 

 up a reed-like, herbaceous stem, which producoa a terminal 

 pod or capsule containing the seeds to whicH the above 

 names are applied. They are carminative, aromatic, and 

 are fraudulently used to give a false strength to beer and 

 liquors. Grains of Paradise are also produced by other 

 species of the genus grown in India. 



Cardamoms of commerce are the fruit of Elettaria Carda- 

 momuni^ which grows abundantly both wild and cultivated in 

 many parts of India, particularly Malabar. It has a reed- 

 like stem, which is perennial, producing fruit for several 

 successive years. The patent medicine " Solomon's Balm of 

 Gilead," is principally prepared from cardamoms. 



Alpinia nutans. A native of India, growing in dense masses 

 and having reed-like stems with broad, elliptical, lanceolate 

 leaves, and bearing a pendulous spike of white flowers, which 

 have a pearl or shell-like appearance. The whole plant is 

 strongly aromatic. It is easy of cultivation, and very orna- 

 mental in hothouses, as also is the beautiful Hedycliimn 

 Gardnerianum, and its congeners H. heteromalum, and other 

 species. They have thick fleshy rhizomes, and produce 

 leafy stems 4 — 6 feet in height, terminated with cylindrical 

 spikes of perfumed yellow or white flowers. 



Costus speciosus, a native of the East Indies, and C. afer^ 



