139 



5C5. AMOMUM MAXIMUM, Roxb. 



a. Fruit. (Java Cardamoms, Great Winged Cardamoms.) 

 Note. The fruits are about the size of a cob-nut ; the seeds are angu- 

 lar, and have a taste like cardamoms, but less powerful. The fruits when 

 soaked in water are seen to have 9-13 ragged wings about one eighth 

 inch deep. Nepal and Bengal cardamoms have been confounded with 

 this kind by Pereira. Nepal cardamoms have a long tubular calyx as 

 long or longer than the fruit, and are often stalked. Bengal cardamoms 

 differ in being of a deep brown colour. Java cardamoms have a dull 

 grey colour. See Pharmacographia, p. 588. Bengal cardamoms are 

 known to the native drug dealers as Morung Elachi, and in the bazaars 

 as Euro Elachi. For fig. of fruit see Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii., pt. i., p. 249, 

 fig. 105. 



566. AMOMUM MELAGUETA, Boscoe. 



a. Fruit, preserved wet. 



6. Seeds. (Grains of Paradise, Guinea Grains.) 



c. Roots, preserved wet. 



Note. The fruit, when fresh, is of a red colour. The seeds are used by 

 the natives of West Africa as a condiment. In this country they are 

 used in cattle medicines, and also, it is stated, for giving pungency to 

 cordials. Pharmacographia, p. 592. The seeds may be distinguished 

 from those of colchicum by their larger size and the conical, paler, mem- 

 branous caruncle at the base of the seed. See Bentley and Trimen, Med. 

 Plants, tab. 268. See also the Hanbury Collection. 



567. AMOMUM MEDIUM, Lour. ; ALPINIA ALBA, Boscoe. 



a. Fruit. (Tsao-quo, Qud-leu, Ovoid China Cardamom.) 

 Note. The fruit is about the size of a small nutmeg, and of a dirty 

 grey colour, and the seeds are larger than in any other kind, angular and 

 somewhat pear-shaped. They have an aromatic taste like that of oil of 

 lemon-grass or verbena, but much less powerful than that of A. citratum. 

 A specimen of the ovoid China cardamom in the Museum of Natural 

 History at Paris is labelled qua-leu. The seeds are used in China as a 

 condiment. For fig. see Per. If at. Med., vol. ii., pt. L, p. 257, fig. 126 ; 

 P. J. [1], vol. xiv., p. 420, fig. 9. 



568. AMOMUM SPECIES. (Black Cardamom.) 



a. Fruit. (Bitter-seeded Cardamom, Yih-che-tsze.) 

 Note. The seeds are pitted, and have a bitter, myrrh-like taste ; they 

 are of a deep brown colour. This specimen was presented by Mr. D. 

 Hanbury. For fig. of the fruit and seeds see P. J. [1] , vol. xiv., p. 419, 

 fig. 8. 



569. AMOMUM VILLOSUM, Lour. 



a. Fruit. (Hairy Chinese Cardamom, Yang-chun-sha.) 

 Note. The fruit is covered with numerous small asperities, which are 

 short, dried, fleshy spines. The seeds have a peculiar taste, which resem- 

 bles the odour of burnt cork (Hanbury describes it as tar-like), together 

 with the warmth of Malabar cardamoms. The fruit is referred 1" 

 Guibourt to the above species ; but Hanbury considers this identification 

 doubtful. The specimen was presented by Mr. D. Hanbury. For fig. 

 see P. J. [1] , vol. xiv., p. 355, fig. 45. 



