East African cardamon
Aframomum mala

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A ginger family herb. The leafy shoots grow 2-4 m tall. It has extensive rhizomes 4-6 mm thick. The leaves are narrowly oval and 20-50 cm long by 5-11 cm wide. They are wedge shaped and taper to the tip. There are 5-6 flowers in a group. The come from the base of the leafy shoots. The fruit are oval and 4.5 cm long and 2 cm across. The seeds are 4 mm long by 2 mm wide.

There are about 50 Aframomum species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the undergrowth and on the edges of mountain forests. It grows between 1,000-1,700 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit, pith, seed

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Osaye

Synonyms

Aframomum crassilabium (K. Schum. ex Engl.) K. Schum.; Amomum crassilabium K. Schum. ex Engl.; Amomum mala K. Schum ex Engl.; Amomum mala K. Schum.;