CARDAMOMI SEMEN 



127 



is used in pharmacy for coloring ointments and tinctures, and for preparing 

 turmeric test-paper. 



Preparation of Curcumin. Obtained pure after removing the oil by exhausting 

 the residual powder with ether, evaporating and recrystallizing from alcohol. 

 Crystals yellow, with a vanilla-like odor. 



82. CARDAMOMI SEMEN. CARDAMOM SEED 

 CARDAMOM 



The dried seed recently removed from capsules of Eletta'ria Cardamomum 

 (White et Maton). (Fam. Zingiberaceae.) 



BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. Rhizome fleshy-fibrous. Stem 6 to 9 feet high. 

 Leaves lanceolate, pubescent above, silky beneath. Flowers borne on scapes; 

 anthers 2-lobed. Capsules 3-celled, 3-valved. 



HABITAT. Malabar; cultivated in India. 



DESCRIPTION or FRUIT. Triangular-ovate, from 12 to 37 mm. Q/ to 

 1 3^ in.) long, with flat, ribbed sides, in the center of which are longi- 

 tudinal furrows marking the positions of the cell-partitions; valves 

 three, opening longitudinally at the rounded angles; central placenta. 

 The pericarp is of a yellowish or buff color, leathery, and nearly 

 tasteless. Internally 3-celled, each containing from 5 to 7 reddish- 

 brown, irregularly angular, rugose seeds, having an aromatic odor 

 and taste; these seeds form 75 per cent, of the fruit in the best varieties. 

 The inert pericarp is rejected in 

 making preparations. The seeds 

 are mostly agglutinated in groups 

 of from 5 to 7, the individual 

 seeds are oblong ovoid in shape 

 3- or irregularly 4-sided convex 

 on the dorsal surface, longitud- 

 inally grooved on one side, 

 about 3 to 4 mm. in length, ex- 



.... FIG. 46. Cardamomum. A. Whole fruit en- 



ternally reddish-gray to brown, larged. B. Cross-section, c. Seed, 

 coarsely tubercled, and often with adhering portions of the mem- 

 braneous aril moderately hard but easily crushed, odor aromatic, 

 taste aromatic and pungent. Seeds may be kept in the capsules 

 until wanted for use. 



Powder. Greenish-brown, consisting chiefly of coarse angular frag- 

 ments of cells of the reserve layers and seed coat. 



Endosperm and perisperm of seeds filled with compound starch 

 grains fragments of seed coat with dark brown stone cells, which are 

 polygonal in surface view and about 0.020 in diameter. 



