CURCUMA ROSCOEANA. 
(mr, roscoe's turmeric.) 
CLASS. ORDER. 
MONANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
NATUKAJ^ ORDKa, 
SCITAMlNEiE. 
Generic Character. — Corolla with a divided limb, each division three-parted. Anthers double, two- 
spurred at the base. Capsule two-celledj with numerous arillate seeds. Embryo simple, having 
both albumen and vitcllus. 
Specific Character. — Plant a deciduous herbaceous perennial, about a foot in height. Stems erect, 
roundish. Leaves with a long channelled petiole, which embraces the stems at its base, broadly ovate, 
tapering a little at the extremity, acute, with an abundance of distinct veins diverging from the axis 
in. almost a parallel direction, rather wavy at the margins. Flowers in an ascending series, enveloped 
in large, expansive, wavy, obtuse, scarlet sheaths. Corolla two-parted ; lower lip largest, roundish, 
and lying on the surface of the sheath ; upper one nearly erect, slightly concave, and much jagged at 
the margin : both fugitive, bright yellow. 
It is the notorious defect of plants of tliis description tliat either they are too 
tall and diffuse in their growth, or their flowers too diminutive or inelegant, to 
entitle them to a place in ordinary collections. Hence, it is only in the stoves of 
the wealthy, and of those persons who are from peculiar fancy attached to such 
singular objects, that more than two or three universally-loved species of these 
tropical reed-like plants are to be found. 
But although this observation may apply in most instances, there are, besides 
those already excepted, others in which it is strikingly negatived, in proof of 
which, it is our pleasing office to usher into more extended notice the handsome 
species exhibited in the accompanying plate. No plant is more fit to adorn a stove 
in which only a select group of exotics are cultivated. Its merits, though more 
palpably residing in the brilliant tint of the blossoms, and their still richer spathes, 
are by no means confined to this one characteristic. The dwarfness of its habitude, 
its noble foliage, the long period through which its floral sheaths remain without 
withering, and the facility with w^hich it may be preserved and propagated, all aid 
in establishing its claims to our attachment and culture. 
VOL. VII.— NO. LXXIII. B 
