512 
XCIX. SCITAMINEJE 
2. Cautleya spicata. Baker ; FI. Br. Ind. vi. 209. Stems 1-2 ft. 
Leaves 10-15 X2-3 in., long-pointed. Spike 5-9 in., erect ; bracts 
red, as long as the calyx. Flowers 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, Roxb. ; 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 X2-3 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 ; con- 
nective 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 H. 
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 J in., longer than the 
calyx : lobes 1^ in., linear, spreading, pale yellow. Lateral stamin- 
odes If 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. 
