634 



MEDICAL BOTANY. 



erect, smooth, jointed, 

 Fig. 292. covered with the 



spongy sheaths of the 

 leaves. Leaves bifa- 

 rious, sub-sessile on 

 the sheaths, lanceo- 

 late, sharp-pointed, a 

 little villous above, se- 

 riceous beneath, en- 

 tire. Sheaths some- 

 what villous, with a 

 rounded ligula rising 

 over the mouth. Scapes 

 several, radical, pros- 

 trate, flexuose, j ointed, 

 branched ; branches 

 alternate, sub-erect. 

 Bracts solitary , oblong, 

 smooth, sheathing. 

 Flowers alternate, on 

 E. cardamomum. short peduncles, at 



each joint of the ra- 

 cemes. Calyx infundibuliform, permanent, finely-striated. Tube of corolla slender, as 

 long as the calyx ; limb double ; exterior of 3-lobed ; inner, obovate, longer than the 

 outer, slightly 3-lobed. Filaments short, erect. Anther double, emarginate. Style 

 slender. Stigma infundibuliform. Capsule oval, somewhat triangular, 3-celled, 3-valved. 

 Seeds coriaceous, pale-brown or blackish. 



Maton, Trans. Linn. Soc. x. 254 ; Lindley, Fl. Med. 566 ; Amomum 

 repens, Sonnerat, Voyages, ii. 240, t. 136 ; A. cardamomum, White, Trans. 

 Linn. Soc. x. 230 ; Alpinia repens, Smith, Trans. Linn. Soc. viii. 353 ; Al. 

 cardamomum, Roscoe, Monan. PL t. 38 ; Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. i. 70. 



This species is found in the mountainous parts of the coast of Malabar. 

 There is every evidence that it produces the True or Malabar Cardamoms. 

 It is extensively cultivated in Malabar in the following manner. Previous 

 to the rainy season in June, a spot on the shady side of a well- wooded hill is 

 selected, on which is a large tree, around which all the shrubs and weeds are 

 removed, when the tree is cut down. From the concussion produced, the 

 earth in the vicinity is loosened, and in a month's lime the young Cardamom 

 plants make their appearance. These attain maturity about the fourth year, 

 at which time the radical inflorescence occurs, succeeded by the fruit, which 

 is ripe in November, and requires no other preparation than drying in the 

 sun. The plants bear until their seventh year, when they are cut down, and 

 the young shoots that arise, treated in the same manner. (White, I. c.) 



There are three varieties of Malabar car- 

 Fl S' 293 - damoms recognised in commerce : Shorts, 



Short-Longs, and Longs ; these, according to 

 Mr. White, are all furnished by the same plant. 

 They are all ovate-oblong, obtusely triangular, 

 from 3 to 10 lines long, coriaceous, ribbed, of 

 a grayish or brownish-yellow colour. The 

 seeds are numerous, angular, reddish or black- 

 ish-brown, and rugose. They have an agree- 

 able, aromatic odour, and a warm, aromatic 

 taste. They contain Essential oil, Fixed oil, 

 Fecula, Colouring matter, &c. The active 

 constituent is the essential oil. 



Cardamoms are principally employed in medicine as a flavouring ingredi- 



Malabar Cardamoms. 

 a. Shorts, b. Short-longs, c. Longs. 



