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HELICONIA? MARANTIFOLIA.
C H A R A C T E R GENERICUS.
CAL. Spathce communes partialefque alternas, diftinítce, floribus hermaphroclitis.
Perianthlum nullum.
COR. Pétala 3, oblonga, canaliculata, ereéla, acuta, asqualia.
Neftarium cliphyllum, folíolo altero petalls fubíequall; altero breviflìmo, canaüculato,
uncinato, oppofito.
STAM. Filamenta quinqué, filiformia. Antherx longse, ereftse.
PisT. Germen inferum, oblongum. Stj-'lus ilammibus brevior. Stigma iongum, gracile, curvatum,
capitulo terminali.
PER. Capfula oblonga, truncata, triquetra, trilocularis.
SEM. folitaria, oblonga.
C H A R A C T E R SPECIFICUS.
Heliconiar foliis lanceolatis, floribus cocciiieis.
C A L .
C O R .
G E N E R I C CHARACTER.
Spathes common and partial alternate, diftind, with hermaphrodite flowers.
Perianth none.
Petals tliree, oblong, channelled, ereft, acute, equal.
Ne£tary two-leaved, one leafet being nearly equal to the petals; the other very ihort,
channelled, hooked, oppofite.
STAM. Filaments five, thread-form. Anthers long, ereft.
PiST. Germ inferior, oblong. Style fhorter than ftamens. Stigma long, ilender, curved, widi
a terminal head.
PER. Capfule oblong, truncate, three-fided, three-celled.
SEEDS folitaiy, oblong.
S P E C I F I C CHARACTER.
Heliconia? with lanceolate leaves and fcarlet flowers.
THE genus Heliconia, inferior to few in the elegancy of its appearance, might in a natural
arrangement be placed amongft the Scitamineje. Thele plants commonly bear broad lanceolate
leaves, and in general habit are in fome degree allied to the Liliacese. The genus Heliconia is
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one of thofe which do not make their appearance in the fixth edition of the Genera Plantarnm
of Linnsns, but have been defcribed in his later works. It is very nearly allied to the fuperb
genus Strelitzia, which has lately been feparated from it. The fpecies of Heliconia are not
numerous, and are chiefly natives of America ?
Heliconia, though nearly allied to the reft of the Scitaminea; in habit, is yet, on account
of the number of its ftamina, placed in the clafs Pentandria: the fame is alfo the cafe with
the genus Strelitzia. The major part of the Scitamineae ftand in the clafs Monandria of the
Sexual Syftem.
T h e Heliconia marantifolia is confidered as a W e f t Indian plant, and is faid to be chiefly
found in the ifland of St. Vincent: the leaves are of a bright and beautiful green; and the
flowers deep fcarlet or crimfon. This fpecies however does not feem perfeftly clear, nor its
hiftory well underftood.