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4MOMUM CARDAMOMUM. ORD, XLV. Scitaminew. 735 
Class Monandria. Ord. Monogynia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 2. 
Ess, Gen. Ch. Cor, 4-fida: Jacinia prima patente. 
Sp. Ch. A. scapis ramosis elongatis decumbentibus. 
Smith, Syst. Veg. ined. 
THE root is perennial: the stalks are simple, sheathy, erect, 
grow to a considerable height, and beset with leayes, which are 
lance-shaped, large, entire, acutely pointed, ribbed, and stand 
alternately upon the sheaths of the stalk: the flower stalk proceeds 
immediately from the root, and creeps along the ground: it is 
commonly about a foot and a half in length, articulated, in a 
zig-zag form,* and producing numerous flowers, which are placed 
upon divided stipulated peduncles, arising from the articulations: 
the calyx is small, and obtusely divided into three teeth at the 
margin: the corolla is monopetalous, composed of a narrow tube, 
divided at the mouth into four segments; of these the three — 
outermost are long, narrow, Giitecia: and of a straw colour, a 
the central one, iiich has been considered as a 
broad; Concave; of am-irregular oval shape, and fifarked with ale. 
coloured stripes: the filament is membranous, strap-shaped, shorter 
than the segments of the corolla, to the top of which the anthera 
is joined: the germen is roundish, and placed below the insertion 
of the tube of the corolla: the style is filiform, of the length of the 
filament, and supplied with an obtuse stigma: the capsule is tri- 
angular, divided into three cells and valves, containing several 
smajJl dark coloured seeds. 
This plant is a native of the East Indies, and according to 
Sonnerat grows abundantly on the Malabar Coast :* it differs con- 
siderably from the Amomum Cardamomum of Linnzus, as appears 
* Ina specimen of this plant, which we have seen in the Herbarium of Sir 
Joseph Banks, this appearance is very remarkable. 
* <dan Go 
