Grape-seeded amomum, Large amomum
Aframomum alboviolaceum

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A ginger family herb. It has creeping rhizomes or underground stems. These are 8 mm across and buried 5 cm deep. It has stems 3 m high. The leaves are large. They are sword shaped and 32 cm long by 9 cm wide. The base is wedge shaped and they taper to the tip. There are 2-5 flowers in a group. They are pale red to white. The lip of the flower is pink, purple or white. The fruit are oval and have a beak. They are 10 cm long and 7 cm wide. The seeds are narrowly oval and 4-6 mm long by 3-4 mm wide. They are dark brown and shiny.

There are about 50 Aframomum species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in woodland and savannah woodland. It grows up to 1,500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, Congo R, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

The pulp and the cooked fleshy rind of the fruit is eaten. They are dried as a pepper substitute. They are used to spice juices, porridge and breads. The young rhizome is eaten.

It is a commonly used food in West Africa. It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds, rhizome, root, leaves, spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Acao, Acawoi, Acawoit, Amasaasi, Atale okou, Belancufo, Belencufa, Bobota, Bussondja, Cameroon cardamom, Ebo, Ebouro, Gbetakin, Gingengue, Guinea cardamom, Ibio, Ibouro, Kitundibila, Koutchou, Linguenga, M'buanhenhi, Mansasa, Mantchondja, Manzunja, Masunga, Matungulu, Ngemoa, Ntundibila, Ntundulu, Ocao, Odjom, Okpogloe, Ola, Xinquenga

Synonyms

Aframomum biauriculatum K. Schum.; Aframomum candidum Gagnep.; Aframomum latifolium (Afzel.) K. Schum.; Aframomum macrospermum (Sm.) Burkill; Aframomum stipulatum (Gagnep.) K. Schum.; Amomum alboviolaceum Ridl.; Amomum bitacoum Gagnep.; Amomum latifolium Afzel. [Illegitimate]; Amomum macrospermum Sm.; Amomum stipulatum Gagnep.; Cardamomum latifolium Kuntze; Ceratanthera beaumetzii Heckel;