108 POPULAR ECONOMIC BOTANY. 



about the size of mustard-seeds, with a rough dark-brown 

 exterior, and rather irregular shape. 



Besides the officinal cardamom, the following occasionally 

 find their way into the market, but are of inferior value : — 



The Ceylon, or Wild Cardamom {Mettana major) is 

 longer, often with the remains of the persistent calyx at one 

 end, and the stalk at the other. It is rarely imported. 



The Java Cardamom {Amomum maximum), the produce 

 of another genus of the same Natural Order. — This is al- 

 most globular in shape, and nearly as large as a moderate- 

 sized gooseberry. They are cultivated in various parts of 

 Iudia, but are not much esteemed in Europe. 



The Bound or Cluster Cardamom {Amomum Cardamo- 

 mum.) — A native of Sumatra, Java, and other Indian 

 islands ; it is nearly globular ; they are of rare occurrence. 



The quantity of all kinds imported is about 25 tons per 

 annum . 



Grains of Paradise, or Malaguetta Pepper. — Sup- 

 posed by Dr. Pereira to be the seeds of two distinct species 

 of plants, the Amomum Gr ana-par adisi of Sir J. E. Smith, 

 and the A. Meleguetta, Eoscoe; and probably of others. 



They are always imported from the coast of Guinea. 

 The seeds, which are freed from the husk, are longer and 



