512 
XCIX. SCITAMINE2E 
2. Cautleya spieata, Baker ; FI. Br. Ind. vi. 209. Stems 1-2 ft. 
Leaves 10-15 x 2-3 in., long-pointed. Spike 5-9 in., erect ; bracts 
red, as long as the calyx. Mowers many, crowded. Corolla-tube 
hardly longer than the calyx. Seeds black, ovoid, enclosed in a 
white aril. (Fig. 170.) 
Simla, on Jako, Mahasu ; August, September.— Temperate Himalaya. 
3. CURCUMA. From the Arabic name, Kurkum, for a plant 
of this affinity. — India, Siam, Malay Islands, N. Australia. 
Curcuma angustifolia, Boxb. ; FI. Br. Ind. vi. 210. Rootstock 
globose ; tubers many, oblong, at the end of long fibres. Leaves 
appearing about the same time as the flowers, sometimes 
solitary, 6-12 x 2-3 in. ; stalks 6 in. Spike stalked, 3-6 in. long, 
crowned by several enlarged, empty, pink bracts ; lower bracts 
green, ovate. Flowers yellow, crowded, several in the axil of each 
bract, opening in succession, quickly fading. Calyx short, 3-toothed. 
Corolla-tube \ in. ; upper lobe erect, concave, ovate ; the 2 lateral 
lobes shorter, oblong. Lateral staminodes oblong, united to the 
short filament ; lower large, broad, spreading, notched ; connective 
of the anther produced at the base in a fork. Capsule ovoid, 
ultimately opening by 3 valves; seeds many, small, oblong. 
Valleys below 4000 ft., rare; June-October. — An East Himalayan plant, 
hardly extending so far westwards as Simla. 
4. HEDYCHIUM. From the Greek hedys , sweet, and chion, 
snow; referring to the fragrant white flowers of some species. — - 
India and the Malay Islands. 
Hedychium acuminatum, Wall . ; FI. Br. Ind. vi. 227, under II. 
spicatum. Root horizontal. Stems 3-5 ft., robust, leafy. Leaves 
sessile, broadly lanceolate, 1-2 ft. x 3-4 in., ending in a tail-like tip. 
Spike 6-10 in. ; bracts 1 -flowered, green, oblong, obtuse ; inner 
bract shorter, membranous. Flowers fragrant. Calyx membranous, 
slit on one side, 3- toothed. Corolla-tube 2-2 \ in., longer than the 
calyx ; lobes 1^ in., linear, spreading, pale yellow. Lateral stamin- 
odes 1J in., linear-spathulate, spreading, white, except the orange- 
red bases, lower 2 in., spreading, the blade 1 in. broad, white, deeply 
divided in 2 ovate, pointed lobes, and narrowed downwards in an 
orange-red claw ; filament red, curved, the margins inrolled over 
the style ; anther red. Ovary short, thick. Capsule globose ; when 
ripe the 3 valves are reflexed, exposing their orange-red lining and 
numerous small seeds enclosed in a red aril. 
Simla, on Jako, Mahasu ; August. — Temperate Himalaya. 
