323 
also tlie same distinct petiole, often with a thickened rounded space at the 
apex ; Musaceae are, however, pent- or hexandrous, with a calyx and corolla 
of the same texture. Iridaceae are the next order with which Zingiberaceae 
may be compared, agreeing in their superior flowers, which have sometimes 
an approach to the irregularity of Alpinia and the like, and also in the triple 
number of their stamens ; but while these organs are all developed in Iri- 
daceae, two are abortive or deformed in both Zingiberaceae and Marantaceae. 
Bromeliaceae have been identified with them of old, but their resemblance 
consists chiefly in the distinction of calyx and corolla, and their inferior 
ovary. To Orchidaceae they are related in consequence of the reduction of 
their three stamens to one by the abortion of two : but the cohesion of the 
stamens and style in the latter, and the want of any distinction between 
calyx and coroUa, sufficiently separate them, besides which the series which 
produces the stamens in Orchidaceae answers to the sterile stamens or inner 
limb of the corolla in Zingiberaceae. For the difierence between Zingiberaceae 
and Marantaceae, see the latter. There is a fine volume consecrated to plants 
of these two tribes by Roscoe, who first remodelled the genera and reduced 
them within fixed hmits. Between the embryo and the albumen is inter- 
posed a fleshy body enveloping the former : this has been called a process of 
the rostellum by Correa, a cotyledon by Smith, a vitellus by Gaertner and 
Brown, a central indurated portion of the albimien by Richard. It is now 
known to be the innermost integument of the o\uile, unabsorbed during the 
advance of this body to maturity. 
Independently of the presence of this vitellus, the most remarkable part 
of the structure of Zingiberaceae depends on the number of divisions of the 
floral envelopes, which consist of a tubular calyx, and of two more series 
instead of one. Brown struck with this unusual deviation from the ordinary 
organisation of Monocotyledons, was disposed to consider the calyx an acces- 
sory part {Prodr, 305) ; but Lestiboudois’ explanation appears more satisfac- 
tory. According to this botanist (as quoted in Ach. Richard’s Nouv. Elem. 
439), Zingiberaceae are really hexandrous, like the nearly-related Musaceae ; 
but of their stamens the outer series is petaloid, and forms the inner hmb of 
the coroUa, and of the inner series of stamens the central one only developes, 
the lateral ones appearing in the form of rudimentary scales. The notion of 
Lestiboudois is confirmed by Marantaceae, in which the inner stamens (even 
that which is antheriferous (become petaloid like the outer : thus shewing 
that in these plants there is a strong and general tendency in the filaments to 
assume the state of petals. 
Geography. All tropical, or nearly so. By far the greater number inha- 
bit various parts of the East Indies ; some are found in Africa, and a few in 
America. They form a part of the singular Flora of Japan. 
Properties. Generally objects of great beauty, either on account of 
the high degree of developement of the floral envelopes, as in Hedychium 
coronarium and Alpinia nutans ; or because of the rich and glowing colours 
of the bracts, as in Curcuma Roscoeana {Wallich Plant. As. Par. vol. 1. 
tab. 9.) They are, however, principally valued for the sake of the aromatic 
stimulating properties of the root or rhizoma, such as are found in Ginger 
(Zingiber officinalis), Galangale (Alpinia racemosa and Galanga), Zedoary 
(Curcuma Zedoaria and Zerumbet), and many other species of the latter 
genus. The warm and pungent roots of the greater and lesser Galangale are 
not only used by the In^an doctors in cases of dyspepsia, but are also con- 
sidered useful in coughs, given in infusion. Ainslie, 1. 141. The seeds of 
many partake of the properties of the root. Cardamoms are the seeds of 
several plants of this order. On the eastern frontiers of Bengal the fruit of 
Amomum aromaticum is used ; the lesser Cardamom of Malabar is the 
