Foreign Vegetables. 189 
It is prefcribed in Powder from gfs. to jj. and in 
Decoftion to Jfs. It is likewife ufed in Gargarifms, • 
and aftringent Clyfters. 
Artic. IX. Of Amomum. 
Amomum racemofum , Off. ’’Apupov, Diofc. et Gal. 
Bolovosv a^cof/.ov, Andromach . Bolgug olpupov, Damocrat . 
Amomum , Plin. Hamemis ant Hamama , The 
true Amomum, as we find it in the Shops, is a 
dry Fruit which grows in fmall Bunches, ten or 
twelve roundifh, membranaceous, brittle Pods, 
about as big as common Grapes, Handing with- 
out Foot-ftalks upon one common Twig, and 
prefiing clofe upon each other. The Twig is (len- 
der, an Inch or two long, and furnifhed with many 
thin fibrous Leaves of different Lengths ; the 
fhorter being diftributed in a Series over the Twig, 
like Scales. The longer Leaves, which are about 
equal to Half an Inch, encompafs the Fruit, fix 
and fix together, forming about each Pod a Kind 
of Calyx. The Pods are of a pale Colour, white, 
or palifii with a Call of red, having at their Point 
a fmall Protuberance, and fome fine Threads or 
Nerves drawn like Lines through their Length ; 
with three Furrows, and as many Eminencies be- 
tween them, correfponding to three Rows of 
cornered Seeds contained within. Thefe are fepa- 
rated by a thin Membrane, which likewife affords 
a particular Cover to each Seed. The Seeds in the 
three Orders are fo clofely ranged, that they ex- 
hibit the Appearance only of three long entire Seeds. 
Externally they are of a dark Colour, internally 
white, of an hard Subftance, yet brittle, being 
more eafily broken than Cardamom-Seed. The 
Bunches have a fragrant Smell, fomething like 
common Lavender, but fweeter. The Seeds fepa- 
rately 
