Aframomum albiflorum
Family: Zingiberaceae
What it is like
A ginger family herb. It grows 2-3 m high. It has large underground stems of rhizomes that produce leafy shoots. The leafy shoots are 2-3 m tall. The leaves are 30-45 cm long by 10 cm wide. There are 2-3 flowers together coming from the rhizome. They are white with a yellow patch in the centre. They are on stalks 2-4 cm long. The bracts are bronze coloured. The fruit are oval and 5 cm long. The seeds are smooth and shiny and narrowly oval. They are 5-6 cm long by 3 cm wide.
There are about 50 Aframomum species.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in the understorey in forests. It occurs between 1,300-1,550 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, East Africa, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Sudan, Tanzania, Zimbabwe (country/location of origin)
How it is used for food
The pulp of the fruit is eaten raw.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Msamaka, Mtunguru, Mtunguu, Tunguru