Order Cliii
MUSACEÆ.
A noble order of plants, resembling the two last in appearance, but of far more gigantic stature, different geographical distribution, and sensible qualities. All the species, without exception, are among the grandest in the vegetable world, whether the breadth and beauty of their foliage, or the surpassing grandeur of their flowers, be considered. They are not, like Scitamineæ and Canneæ, confined to the tropics, but approach in many points towards the cooler latitudes of either hemisphere. While the Strelítzias, resplendent with orange and scarlet and white, are peculiar to the Cape of Good Hope, the plantain is laden with its enormous masses of wholesome pleasant fruit, in the mild climate of Madeira; the Helicónias and Uránias appear in the sultriest forests of Madagascar and Guiana. The fruit of the Músa is, as just stated, pleasant and wholesome; the leaves of the same plant form a valuable thatching for cottages; and the fibres of a particular species are manufactured into a fine hemp, from which the most delicate muslins of India are prepared. 570 Helicónia W. 571 Strelítzia H. K.
ORDER CLIV. 721 Músa W.
HÆMODORACEÆ. 722 Uránia W.
The name of this order, derived from aίμa, blood, indicates its most striking peculiarity; the roots of several species of Hæmodórum, Wachendorfia, and Heritiéra yielding a brilliant crimson dye. The species have equitant leaves, and six stamens, with anthers turned towards the ovarium; in which last character they differ from the closely allied order of Irideæ. They are found, with very few exceptions, in the Cape of Good Hope and New Holland. 720 Anigozánthos Lab. 108 Xiphídium W. 111 Hæmodórum Sm. 110 Wachendórfia Ker 113 Dilátris Ker 718 Lophíola B. M. 719 Argolásia Juss.