''Aframomum angustifolium'', known as "wild cardamom" in English, is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

in the ginger family

Zingiberaceae Zingiberaceae () or the ginger family is a family of flowering plants made up of about 50 genera with a total of about 1600 known species of aromatic perennial herbs with creeping horizontal or tuberous rhizomes distributed throughout tropical ...

that grows in

tropical Africa The Afrotropical realm is one of the Earth's eight biogeographic realms. It includes Sub-Saharan Africa, the southern Arabian Peninsula, the island of Madagascar, and the islands of the western Indian Ocean. It was formerly known as the Ethiopi ...

and in

Madagascar Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Lying off the southeastern coast of Africa, it is the world's List of islands by area, f ...

Description

''Aframomum angustifolium'' is

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of ...

and like other plants of this family, its erect "stems" consist of layered tubular leaf bases. The fruit is a

berry A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone or pit although many pips or seeds may be present. Common examples of berries in the cul ...

containing many seeds surrounded by sugary-sweet and sour edible pulp.

Etymology

The species name, ''angustifolium'', means "narrow-leaved" in Latin. In Madagascar, it is known as ''longoza'', due to its use as a source of energy during long hunting treks (''lona'' "long hours", and ''hoza'' "to experience diificulties").

Uses

The plant's crushed seeds are used as a peppery spice. The leaves are also used as disposable receptacles for eating rice.

References

Flora of East Tropical Africa Flora of Madagascar Fruits originating in Africa angustifolium {{Zingiberales-stub