THE PRINCIPLES OF BOTANY. 
541 
supplies the true arrowroot of the shops, whilst the Canna 
produces a starch called tons les mois. The seeds of some of 
the Cannas are so hard and smooth as to have won the name 
of Indian shot ; and it is said that these roasted form no had 
substitute for coffee. These plants have lately come into pro- 
minence from their ornamental nature, and many interesting 
varieties of them may be seen in the “ tropical garden 55 at 
Battersea Park. 
The different kinds of arrowroot made from the Marants 
are the true ones, but somehow the term has got to he 
genericTor any kind of fecula, such as " Portland arrowroot,” 
from the Arum maculatum , Brazilian arrowroot, from the 
Jatropha manihot , while the starch in potatoes is not only 
called but sold for genuine arrowroot. The fecula of the 
Marants form a most agreeable non-nitrogenous food. Pereira 
says, " the starch or arrowroot is employed at the table as an 
article of food, in the form of puddings. It forms an agreeable 
non-irritating diet for invalids or infants. In irritation of 
the alimentary canal, of the pulmonary organs, or of the 
urinary apparatus, it is especially valuable as a nutritive, 
emollient, and demulcent.” 
It has been used both in man and in the lower animals to 
dry up wounds, and is even made a vehicle in which to mix 
many active substances to be applied to abraded surfaces, &c. 
3. Zingiber acece. — The Gingerworts are all aromatic herbs, 
natives of the tropics. Their stems are never branching ; 
not so, however, the rhizome or rootstock, as that often 
assumes most curious branching and knotted forms. Almost 
all the species are objects of great beauty, their flow 7 ers 
rivalling the orchids in colour and peculiarities of form. 
Like some of the orchids, too, even the flowers possess a 
delicate aroma as do those of the ginger, indicative of the fine 
aromatic principles which we find stored up in different parts 
of their structure. 
The order is rather an extensive one, but we shall only 
refer to three, as they are celebrated for affording us some 
active and useful medicines, e. g.~ 
Zingiber — Ginger. 
Curcuma — Turmeric. 
Amomum — Cardamoms. 
Pereira says that "seven kinds of ginger, distinguished 
partly by their place of growth and partly by their quality, 
are known in English commerce. Of these two are from 
the West Indies, four from the East Indies, and one from 
Africa.” 
XLI V. 
39 
