Cameroon's cardamom
Aframomum daniellii

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A ginger family herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has rhizomes or stems under the ground. It grows to 3-4 m high. The flowers are clustered at the base. They are on short stalks. The flowers are red and yellow. The fruit are green or red when ripe. They are spindle shaped.

There are about 50 Aframomum species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in seasonally flooded fields. It grows in moist shady places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, West Africa

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is eaten raw. The seeds are also eaten raw.

It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Fruit, spice, seeds, leaves - flavouring

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Eson, Etoutou, Ichabolo, Ketsho, Longozo, Ndiyi na gbeugbeu, Olima

Synonyms

Amomum afzelii Hook. f.; Amomum angustifolium T. Hanb. [Illegitimate]; Amomum daniellii Hook. f.; Cardamomum daniellii (Hook. f.) Kuntze;