I 
Monandria LrNNJii/. 
scarlet cost us. 
COSTUS arabicus. 
W hether cvcrvPbnt cfCosTUS affumc thb glowing colour, at a ccrtum 
L I cumot'by: this W.-.S from Madagascar; and the levcml Flowers 
I ; nnd the Buds of many others had not yet opened, it uas, ex- 
were pcrica on . , ^ -p,,, 
°.I Lg.»r™"6k .to .to .O Jto»d .kc — “f •!» I’l'.M.pto 
Tk Soil i. ...»d . r»>«i »' • '“Sfr"'* °V 
Leaves furround it at their Rife, forming a filmy Scabbard ; thence they, run out to a 
confidcmble length ; waved at the Edge, fupported by large Ribs ; and pointed at the 
end. They were, in this Plant, all of a high and pure learlet. 
The Flowers are numerous, and moft confpicuous. Their Buds form together a vaft 
Hc-ad, which feems eompofed of polilh’d coral. The Rudiment of a Secd-vefiLl fupports 
each Flower : flierc rifes from the Head of this a Cup divided into three deep pointed 
Seements of a glowing red on the outfide, and of a violet blue within. The vaft Flower 
biirfts from its hollow, and is of an ermine whitenefs; tender, delicate, and finely feented ; 
and in form different from all Flowers we know in Europe. 
Three pointed Petals form the lower and the outer part, and from the midft of thefc 
rifes a neflariura, or tubular body; larger; and expanded at the Rim : within this there is 
yet another feeming Petal, fmallcr, bent back upon it, and curled up again ; and facing 
this a very narrow part crowned with a yellow fplit Button, all the reft being white. T his 
is the Figure of the Flower from nature. The Style is fingle and flender ; The Seed- 
vcffcl, which follows, is divided into three parts, and holds many Seeds : The Root is 
tuberous, irregular, fpungy, and white ; almoft infipid, but with a light fpicy Flavour. 
The Fragrance of the Flower is delicate ; and ’tis the Bafc alone that has it : the upper 
part is fcentlefs. 
No care would be too much to make this more familiar in our collcdlions ; and in the 
native foil tis very hardy ; it loves a black moift earth, and thrives beft under fbade. 
The Roots parted at any feafon grow readily : The Flowers open at night, and melt away 
under the next day s fun ; but there is a long and large fuccellion of them. 
The Sexual fyftcm, invented by Li\n,eus, arranges Plants into Clafles, according to 
the number, fituation, and proportion of the dufty Buttons in the Flower, which grow 
ufually upon ftender Filaments, about the young Secd-velTel. In this there is only one; 
the Plant is therefore of the lirft Clafs, the Monandria. The Button is fupported on a 
narrow Petal, mftcad of a Filament ; and ’tis the fame in others of the Clafs, the Canna 
is an inftance. We lhall Ihew hereafter the Diftinaion between Filament and Petal is 
g t an vague . one eafily enlarges into the other, and many double Flowers are formed 
only by the (welling of their Filaments. 
Codus. 
. A< ^ 
