_Canna_ (30 species; Trop. Am.). The inflorescence is a terminal spike with 2-flowered unipared scorpioid cymes in the axils of the floral-leaves. Ornamental plants: _Canna indica_, etc. The diagram of the andrœcium of the Cannaceæ and Marantaceæ may be represented in the following manner (calyx, corolla and gynœceum being omitted):-- CANNACEÆ. MARANTACEÆ. _w_ _w_ _w_ _w_ _st_ _st_ _w_ _lab_ _wi_ _c_ * * _w_ The lateral staminodes, “wings;” _st_ fertile stamen; * the suppressed stamen; _lab_ labellum; _c_ hood; _wi_ inner-wing. The labellum of the Cannaceæ corresponds with the hood of the Marantaceæ and not with the labellum of the Zingiberaceæ. [Illustration: FIG. 317.--_Calathea zebrina._] Order 4. =Marantaceæ.= The flower is asymmetrical. Only 1 or 2 of the 3 stamens in the outer whorl are present as staminodes; in the inner whorl 2 are petaloid and of the sixth stamen one-half is developed as a staminode and the other half bears a bilocular anther. One ovule only in each loculus. The style is strongly curved and at first enclosed in one of the staminodes (hood) of the inner whorl; later on it springs elastically forward towards the other staminode (inner-wing) of the same whorl. The stigma is very oblique or 2-lipped. Two of the three loculi of the ovary, in some (_Maranta_, _Thalia_) become small and empty. Embryo _curved_. Leaves in two rows, with sheath, stalk, and blade (Fig. 317); at the base of the last is a _characteristic swelling_ (_articulus_).--~_Phrynium_, _Calathea_, _Stromanthe_, _Ctenanthe_, _Saranthe_, etc. About 150 species; tropical, especially America. The starch of the rhizome of _Maranta arundinacea_ is OFFICINAL, “West Indian Arrowroot.”~ Family 7. =Gynandræ.= The flowers are hermaphrodite and constructed on the ordinary 3-merous, pentacyclic type with petaloid, _epigynous, strongly zygomorphic_ perianth, and generally _one-stamened_ by the suppression of the other 5 stamens. The family has derived its name from the fact that the stamen is united with the style into a “_stylar column_” (except _Burmanniaceæ_). All are herbs; many grow as epiphytes on other plants. This family and the Scitamineæ occupy correspondingly high positions among the Monocotyledons; these two families may therefore be placed close together, although one cannot be derived from the other. The first of the two orders is very small, but the second is very rich in species. The Apostasieæ are best classed with the Orchidaceæ and have no independent place.