Ovary 3-celled, with axile placentas.--Species 15. North Africa. Many of them are used as ornamental plants, some are poisonous; the root-stock of several species (orris-root) is edible and yields tanning materials, perfumes, and medicaments. =Iris= L. ORDER SCITAMINEAE FAMILY 39. MUSACEAE Tall herbaceous plants. Leaves with a large, oblong or ovate, penni-nerved blade. Flowers subtended by large bracts and arranged in usually spicate rows or cymes, irregular. Perianth corolla-like. Fertile stamens 5, rarely 6. Filaments free. Anthers 2-celled. Ovary inferior, 3-celled. Style free from the stamens, 3-6-lobed. Seeds with a straight embryo and mealy albumen.--Genera 4, species 25. (Under _SCITAMINEAE_.) (Plate 23.) 1. Leaves spirally arranged. Partial inflorescences consisting of 1-2 rows of flowers. Flowers monoecious or polygamous. Sepals and two of the petals united below. Fruit berry-like. Seeds without an aril.--Species 15, growing wild in the tropics, besides 4 (especially _M. paradisiaca_ L.) which are cultivated in various regions. They yield fibre (Manila hemp), tanning and dyeing materials, vegetables, and edible fruits (bananas and plantains), from which also starch, sugar, vinegar, and alcoholic liquor are made. Some species are used as ornamental plants. [Subfamily =MUSOIDEAE=.] =Musa= L. Leaves 2-ranked. Partial inflorescences cymose. Flowers hermaphrodite. Sepals free or the lateral ones united with the petals. Fruit capsular. [Subfamily =STRELITZIOIDEAE=.] 2 2. Odd sepal posterior. Petals united at the base. Ovules solitary in each ovary-cell. Fruit opening septicidally. Seeds without an aril.--Species 1. Naturalised on the Canary Islands. An ornamental plant; the root-stock is edible. [Tribe HELICONIEAE.] =Heliconia= L. Odd sepal anterior. Petals free, at least one of them. Ovules many in each ovary-cell. Fruit opening loculicidally. Seeds with an aril. [Tribe STRELITZIEAE.] 3 3. Petals very unequal, the two lateral ones elongated, connate on one side, provided with a wing-like appendage on the other, the third petal very short. Stamens 5. Aril yellow. Inflorescence few-flowered. Stem moderately tall.--Species 4. South Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. (Plate 23.) =Strelitzia= L. Petals subequal, free, without an appendage. Stamens 6. Aril blue. Inflorescence many-flowered. Stem very tall. Species 1 (_R. madagascariensis_ Sonn., traveller’s tree). Madagascar and Mascarene Islands. The leaves are used in house-building; their sheaths retain much water; the sap also furnishes a drink. The seeds are edible and yield a fat. =Ravenala= Adans. FAMILY 40. ZINGIBERACEAE