96 SOME RARE KINDS OF CARDAMOM. 



1855. The Large Round China Cardamom varies considerably in 



Large round size, my specimens being from 1^ inches to ^ of an inch in 

 length- The capsules are somewhat oval or globular, pointed 

 at either extremity, obscurely three-sided (except at the base 

 where the triangular character is strongly marked); they are 

 sometimes attached to a long pedicel. The 

 pericarp closely invests the mass of seeds ; it 

 is brown, thin, and strongly marked externally 

 with interrupted longitudinal ridges; it is hardly 

 aromatic. The seeds are coherent into a three- 

 FIQ 2 lobed mass (fig. 2) ; they are generally light 



greyish-brown angular with a deep furrow on 

 one side ; they have a slight aromatic odour and taste, the latter 

 suggestive of Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), though much weaker. 



This Cardamom is a native of the South of China, and of 

 Cochin-Chin a, whence it is exported. It appears to be much 

 employed in Chinese medicine as a stomachic. 



SMALL ROUND CHINA CARDAMOM. (FIG. 3.) 



Small round Cardamome rond de la Chine. Guibourt, Hist, des Drogues, 

 Cardamom. e*d. 4, tome ii. (1849), p. 215, figs. 113, 114 (excluding other 

 synonyms). 



Until recently I considered this Cardamom as simply a 

 variety of the preceding, but the decided opinion of its dis- 

 tinctness expressed to me by Professor Guibourt induces me to 

 place it under a separate head. 



Dr. Pereira seems to have confounded it with his " Round 

 Cardamom, fig. 255," which is a representation of M. Guibourt's 

 " Autre Cardamome rond de la Chine" as a comparison of the 

 woodcuts will plainly show. 



Specimens of the Small round China Cardamom are pre- 

 served in the Muse*e d'Histoire Naturelle at Paris. M. Guibourt 

 likewise possesses specimens, and has kindly presented me with 

 one. I have never received this Cardamom direct from China. 



The following description of the Small round China Car- 

 damom is taken chiefly from M. Guibourt's work : 



