ZINGIBERACEJ5. 



633 



lar, cartilaginous, striated, smooth, yellowish-brown capsule, containing oblong or ovate, 

 inclining to cylindrical, dark-brown, highly-polished, pale yellowish-brown seeds. 



These have very little aroma. 



6. A. macrospermum, or Large-seeded Guinea Amomum, was mistaken by Gaertner 

 for the Malaguetta Pepper. It has an ovate, pointed, somewhat striated capsule, with a 

 corrugated beak. The seeds are ovate or nearly globular, or somewhat oblong, smooth, 

 polished, of a greenish-gray or lead colour, with a marked umbilicated scar at base, 

 having a whitish or pale-yellow margin. Their flavour is slightly aromatic. 



Fig. 289. 



Fig. 290. 



Fig. 291. 



Capsule of A. clusii. 



Capsule of A. macrospermum. Capsule of A. maximum. 



It inhabits Africa, in the vicinity of Sierra Leone. 



7. A. maximum. — Capsule nearly globular, of the size of a gooseberry, 3-celled, 

 3-valved, having from seven to thirteen firm, short, ragged, membranaceous wings. Seeds 

 dull, dirty-brown, with a shallow groove on one side. Their taste and odour are slightly 

 aromatic. 



This plant is a native of the Malay Islands, Java, &c, and is cultivated in 

 Nepal. Dr. Pereira is of opinion that it furnishes the Java Cardamom ; this, 

 though much employed in the East Indies, is very little known in commerce. 



The seeds of A. aromaticum and A. grandiflorum are also aromatic, and 

 are used as condiments in their native countries. 



Elettaria. — Maton. 



The characters are similar to those of Amomum, except that the tube of the corolla is 

 filiform, and the anther is naked. 



These plants formerly constituted a part of the genus Amomum, were 

 separated by Dr. Maton under the name of Elettaria, were also included in 

 Alpinia by Sir J. Rf Smith, Roscoe, and others, and then placed in Re?ie- 

 almia, in Bot. Repos. The differences between them and Amomum are so 

 trifling, that they might, without impropriety, form a section of that genus, 

 more especially as their properties are identical. 



E. cardamomum, Maton. — Rhizome with numerous, fleshy fibres. Stems perennial, 



