| Field notes | Trailing herbs, leafy terminal portion procumbent, rhizomatous, leaves slightly fleshy like Canna leaves when fresh, red tinged, membranous after drying, only whe the plants are lifted up flowers are seen on the ventral side white mixed and with purple markings, membranous, transparent; stamen one, 2-celled, pollen spinulare, filament short, ca. 3/4 cm in opne flower, on the groove of the lip (modified stamens), anthers oblong, basifixed, dehiscence longitudinal, spur or crest absent; ovary inferior, 1-celled with many ovules on one pariental placentation. The characters of the stamens and other characters agree with Zingiberaceae, but the ovary character, particularly the one celled ovary with one parietal placentation is not known in any of the genera of Zingiberaceae or in the related genera like Globba, Hemiorchis and Mantisia. Tuberous herbs both leaves and spikes present, flowers yellow, anthers oblong, tailed or spurred, connectives produced into crest (see figure enclosed). Probably a relative of Curcuma. |
