Amomum Explained

Amomum is a genus of plants containing about 111 species native to China, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and Queensland.^[1] It includes several species of cardamom. Plants of this genus are remarkable for their pungency and aromatic properties.^{[2] [3]}

Among ancient writers, the name amomum was ascribed to various odoriferous plants that cannot be positively identified today. The word derives from Latin amomum,^[4] which is the latinisation of the Greek ἄμωμον (amomon), a kind of an Indian spice plant.^[5] Edmund Roberts noted on his 1834 trip to China that amomum was used as a spice to "season sweet dishes" in culinary practice.^[6]

Selected species

See list of Amomum species for a complete list.

The following have further information:

• Amomum exertum
• Amomum smithiae
• Amomum subulatum (black cardamom) - type species

Formerly placed here

• Amomum compactum – now Wurfbainia compacta
• Amomum costatum – now Hornstedtia costata
• Amomum dallachyi – now Meistera dallachyi
• Amomum elegans – now Wurfbainia elegans
• Amomum ensal – now Elettaria cardamomum
• Amomum epiphyticum – now Epiamomum epiphyticum
• Amomum filiforme – now Hedychium coronarium
• Amomum melegueta – now Aframomum melegueta
• Amomum mioga – now Zingiber mioga
• Amomum ovoideum – now Wurfbainia uliginosa
• Amomum pulchellum – now Cyphostigma pulchellum
• Amomum repens – now Renealmia alpinia
• Amomum robustum – now Wurfbainia uliginosa
• Amomum tsao-ko – now Lanxangia tsaoko
• Amomum uliginosum – now Wurfbainia uliginosa
• Amomum uncinatum – now Elettaria cardamomum
• Amomum villosum – now Wurfbainia villosa
• Amomum zambesiacum – now Aframomum zambesiacum

Notes and References

1. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=101395 Flora of China v 24 p 347, 豆蔻属 dou kou shu, Amomum Roxburgh, Pl. Coromandel. 3: 75. 1820.
2. Govaerts, R. (1995). World Checklist of Seed Plants 1(1, 2): 1-483, 1-529. MIM, Deurne.
3. Lamxay, V. & Newman, M.F. (2012). A revision of Amomum (Zingiberaceae) in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Edinburgh Journal of Botany 69: 99-206.
4. https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0059%3Aentry%3Damomum amomum
5. https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Da%29%2Fmwmon ἄμωμον
6. Book: Roberts, Edmund. Embassy to the Eastern Courts of Cochin-China, Siam, and Muscat. 1837. Harper & Brothers. New York. 138.