Order Cli
SCITAMINEÆ, These are distinguished from the last by their pollen not cohering in masses, their seeds not being winged, and their plurilocular ovarium. Their sensible qualities are also widely different. The species are natives only of the tropical parts of the world, where they form stemless or caulescent herbaceous plants, with long broad leaves, and flowers of white, yellow, or red, often possessing great fragrance, and generally much beauty. Their sensible qualities reside either in the root or the seeds. The former is the part used of the Ginger, the Galangale, the Cóstus, Turmeric, Zedoary, and others, all of which are more or less aromatic. The root of turmeric is also well known as affording a yellow dye, a property which it possesses in common with some others. The seeds of Cardamom are well known for their aromatic stimulating powers. 6 Hedýchium W. 9 Hellénia R. Br. 7 Roscóea Sm. 8 Alpínia W. 10 Zingiber Rosc. 11 Cóstus Rosc. 12 Kæmpféria W. 13 Amómum Rosc. 14 Curcúma W. 15 Glóbba Rosc. 16 Mantísia Sims ORDER CLII.
CANNEE.
Differing from the preceding, in the absence of aromatic principles, in the petaloid nature of the filament, and the single cell of their anther, they wholly resemble them in external appearance and geographical distribution. The Cánnas are well known for their beautiful flowers, and the Maránta arundinacea is celebrated for the abundance of nutritive fæcula which is prepared from it, and imported to Europe under the name of arrow-root. 1 Cánna W. 2 Maránta W. 4 Thália W. 5 Phrýnium W. 3 Calathéa Meyer.