Native Ginger, Green Ginger, Prickly Ginger
Amomum dallachyi

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A ginger family herb up to 4 m high. It forms spreading clumps. The leaves are simple and up to 30-43 cm long and 5 cm wide. They reduce in size up the stem. The flowers are 2-5 cm long by 2 cm wide. They are yellow. They are on a short underground spike among a head of bracts at the base of the plant. The fruit are individual capsules 15-30 mm across in clusters at the base of the plant. They are round and split into 3 lobes. There are numerous seeds inside. They are black. The flesh of the fruit is edible.

There are about 150 Amomum species. They are mostly tropical.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in lowland and rainforest foothills. It needs plenty of water. It does best in shade. It is damaged by frost.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit, rhizome, root

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seed or by division of the rhizome.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Cardamomum dallachyi (F. Muell.) Kuntze;