24 ON THE CEYLON CARDAMOM. 
Stem erect, smooth, enveloped by numerous leaf-sheaths. 
Leaves sessile (or nearly so) on their sheaths, silky beneath, 
acuminate ; the shorter ones lanceolate, the larger 
ones oblong-lanceolate or slightly obovate-lanceolate ; 
breadth two to three inches, length not exceeding fif- 
teen inches. 
Leaf-sheaths about half the length of the leaves, with a 
roundish ligula. 
Scape from the upper part of the rhizome, flexuose, jointed, 
nine inches long, branched ; the branches alternate, 
one from each joint of the scape, suberect, half an inch 
long, supporting two or three pedicels of about three- 
tenths of an inch long. 
Bracts solitary, sheathing, at each joint of the scape, with- 
ered, partial ones solitary, ovate, acute. 
Flowers not present on my specimen. Inflorescence pro- 
bably panicled. Calyx three-lobed. 
Capsules lanceolate-oblong, acutel}' triangular, more or less 
curved, with flat and ribbed sides ; length about If 
inches, breadth § of an inch. Atone extremity there 
is usually found the long cylindrical, permanent, 
three-lobed calyx. Each branch of the scape supports 
one or two capsules. Pericarp, in the dried state, co- 
riaceous, tough, brownish, or yellowish ash colored, 
three-celled. 
Seeds angular, rugged, with a yellowish or red hue; odor 
fragrant, aromatic, peculiar; flavor aromatic, spicy, 
but not acrid and fiery, like that of the Malaguetta 
pepper. 
Perennial. Native of Ceylon ; cultivated at Kandy. Grows 
in shady situations in a rich mixed soil. 
The dried capsules are imported into this country from 
Ceylon, and are known in commerce as Wild or Ceylon 
Cardamoms. They are of inferior value to the Malabar 
Cardamoms {Elettaria Cardamo?num, Maton). Thus 
in the Trade List of the 15th March, 1842, the price of 
