Amomum Ensal

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

Among ancient writers, the name ''amomum'' was ascribed to various odoriferous plants that cannot be positively identified today. The word derives from Latin ''amomum'', which is the latinisation of the Greek ἄμωμον (''amomon''), a kind of an Indian spice plant.ἄμωμον
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', on Perseus Digital Library Edmund Roberts noted on his 1834 trip to China that ''amomum'' was used as a spice to "season sweet dishes" in culinary practice.

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 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''

References

External links

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{{Taxonbar, from=Q133225

Zingiberaceae genera