397 



THE SCIT AMINES, OR REEDY PLANT .STOVE. 



The natural order ScitaminecB^ although by no means extensive, is cer- 

 tainly one of the most beautiful families in the whole vegetable kingdom ; 

 and so very distinct are the species wliicli compose it from all others, 

 especially in external habits and forms, that they accord ill in appearance 

 when cultivated indiscriminately amongst other Tropical Plants. There 

 are also some particulars in their cultivation which differ from that 

 followed with plants generally. To this order belong some plants of 

 considerable commercial interest, such as the Ginger {Zingiber officinale). 

 Turmeric {Curcuma longa), formerly much used in cookery, and still 

 used in the East Indies for dyeing; Galangale {Kcemjpferia galanga), 

 Costus, Turmeric, Zedoary, Cardamom, &c. 



To the true order Sciiaminecje, as far as cultivation is concerned, that 

 of Cannem may very properly be added. 



Of these two orders there are only two or three species that are not 

 natives of the tropics, and it may be stated as rather a curious circum- 

 stance, that the greater part of the former possess highly aromatic 

 properties, which chiefly reside in the roots ; while these properties 

 are entirely wanting in the latter, although similar in structm-e and 

 general appearance, and natives of the same localities. 



In neither order does one ligneous plant exist, the whole assemblage 

 being made up of stemless herbaceous plants, with long, broad leaves, 

 and flowers of great beauty, possessing considerable fragrance. The 

 Cannas are well known for their beautiful flowers, and also as forming 

 the first genus in the sexual system of botany, being possessed only of 

 one stamen and one style. 



This order had never been elucidated in a botanical point of wlew, 

 tiU within these few years, when it was completely revised by that 

 accomphshed scholar and accurate botanist, the late ^Y. Roscoe, Esq. 

 The cultivation of it has also been much neglected hitJierto, notwith- 

 standing the high claims it has to our care and attention. 



