Zingiberaceæ

Zingiberaceæ, a natural order of about 470 species of perennial tropical herbs, with horizontal thickened root-stock and cone-like inflorescence, with three tribes, of which Zingiber (see GINGER), Maranta (see ARROWROOT), and Canna (see INDIAN SHOT) are types. The Marantaceæ were formerly treated as a separate order; and Scitamineæ included Zingiberaceæ and Musaceæ.