Z I N GIBERACE AE 



151 



introduced into Amboina at a comparatively early date, probably 

 by the Portuguese colonists. In literature Folium buccinatum, 

 figured on the same plate, is confused with Folium mensarium. 

 The reduction to Musa bihai Linn, was made by Burman f ., Fl. 

 Ind. (1768) 218, and to Heliconia bihai Linn, by Linnaeus, Mant. 

 2 (1771) 211. The confusion between Folium mensarium and 

 Folium buccinatum was apparently occasioned by Burman in 

 writing the explanation of the plate, who reversed the names 

 and figures. The latter is Cominsia gigantea (Scheff.) K. Sch. 

 (see p. 167). 



The status of all the forms described in this chapter is now 

 rather clear. Folium buccinatum asperum Rumph., Herb. Amb. 

 5: t. 62, /. 1, is Cominsia gigantea (Scheff.) K. Sch.; the figure 

 has been confused with fig. 2, Heliconia bihai Linn. Folium 

 mensarium nigrum is, apparently, merely a variant of the preceding. 

 Folium mensarium rubrum is a species of Cominsia, undescribed 

 under the binomial system (see p. 168). Folium buccinatum 

 album is Phacelophrynium robinsonii Val. 



ZINGIBERACEAE 

 (By Th. Valeton) 

 ZINGIBER Adanson 

 ZINGIBER OFFICINALE Rose, in Trans. Linn. Soc. 7 (1807) 348. 

 Amomum zingiber Linn. Sp. PI. (1753) 1. 



Zingiber majus album Rumph. Herb. Amb. 5: 156, t. 66, f. 1. 



Linnaeus made the first reduction of the Rumphian species 

 to Amomum zingiber Linn., in Stickman Herb. Amb. (1754) 

 20, Amoen. Acad. 4 (1759) 129, Sp. PI. ed. 2 (1762) 1, which, 

 as Zingiber officinale Rose, is manifestly the correct disposition 

 of it. The form described by Rumphius as Zingiber majus rubrum 

 is probably merely a variant of the common ginger, Zingiber 

 officinale Rose. 



ZINGIBER OFFICINALE Rose. var. MINOR Val. var. nov. 



Zingiber minus sive gramineum Rumph. Herb. Amb. 5: 161, t. 66, 

 f. 2. 



Dimensione minore et proprietatibus rhizomatis insignis. 

 Floribus paullum majoribus, labello orbiculari, lobis lateralibus 

 late rotundato-ovatis basi subcordatis a genuina distinguenda. 



This variety is very commonly cultivated in western Java 

 and occasionally produces flowers, although botanically it is 

 quite unknown. It is easily identified by the native name sunti, 

 mentioned by Rumphius and still in use, as well as by the 



