botany: A genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the monandria clas of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the eighth order, Scitamineae. The corolla is erect, and divided into six parts, with a distinct lip bipartite and rolled back; the style lanceolate, and growing to the corolla; the calyx is triphyllous.

Species. 1. The indica, or common broad-leaved flowering cane, is a native of both Indies; the inhabitants of the British islands in America call it Indian flot, from the roundness and hardness of the seeds. It hath a thick, fleshy, tuberous root, which divides into many irregular knobs; it sends out many large oval leaves, without order. At their first appearance the leaves are like a twisted horn; but afterwards expand, and are near a foot long, and five inches broad in the middle; lessening gradually to both ends, and terminated in a point. The stalks are herbaceous, rising four feet high, and are encompassed by the broad leafy foot-stalks of the leaves; at the upper part of the stalk the flowers are produced in loose spikes, each being at first covered with a leafy hood, and turns to a brown colour. The flowers are succeeded by a fruit or capsule, oblong, rough, and crowned with the three-cornered empalement of the flower which remains. When the fruit is ripe, the capsule opens lengthwise into three cells, filled with round, shining, hard, and black seeds.

2. The latifolia, with a pale red flower, is a native of Carolina, and some other northern provinces of America. 3. The glauca, with a very large flower, is a native of South America. 4. The lutea, with obtuse oval leaves, is less common in America than the other sorts. 5. The coccinea, hath larger leaves than any of the other species, and the stalks rise much higher. The flowers are produced in large spikes; and are of a bright crimson, or rather scarlet colour.

Culture. These plants must always be kept in pots of rich earth, to be moved to shelter in winter. They are propagated by seeds sown on a hot-bed, in the spring; and in summer, when the plants are a little advanced in growth, prick them separately in small pots of rich earth, plunging them also in the hot-bed, giving shade, water, and fresh air; to which last harden them by degrees, till they bear it fully. In October they must be removed into a very good stove or green house.