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Costus (Ancient name adopted)

(an ancient name, adopted from Pliny). SYN. Tsiana. ORD. Scitamineoe. A genus of about twenty-five species of stove perennial herbs, few of which are in cultivation. Flowers in spikes, with overlapping bracts; tube of corolla funnel-shaped; the outer segments of the limb equal; the innermost, or middle segment-the lip or labellum-large, bell-shaped. Leaves fleshy. Roots tuberous. The species are of simple culture in a compost of sandy loam, to which a little peat is added. Propagated easily by dividing the roots. C. Afer (Afer). fl. white, tinged with yellow. Summer. l. ovate-elliptic, narrowly acuminate. h. 2ft. Sierra Leone, 1821. (B. M. 4979.) C. igneus (flery).* fl. bright orange-scarlet. l. elliptic, acuminate, glabrous. h. 1ft. to 3ft. Bahia, 1882. (I. H. n. s. 511.) C. Malortieanus (Malortie's).* fl. golden-yellow, marked with irregular orange-red bands. l. large, obovate, acute, shortly stalked. h. 1ft. to 3ft. Costa Rica, 1860. (B. M. 5894.) C. speciosus (showy). fl. white. August. l. silky beneath. h. 3ft. India, 1799. (P. M. B. 4, 245.) C. spiralis (spiral). fl. scarlet. November. l. long-elliptic, thick, shining. h. 4ft. Caraccas.