Round cardamom, Cluster cardamom
Amomum compactum

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A ginger family herb. It grows 1-1.5 m tall. The leaves do not have leaf stalks. The leaves are sword shaped and 25-50 cm long by 4-9 cm wide. The flower spikes are cylinder shaped and 5 cm long by 2.5 cm wide. The bracts are yellow and the flowers are yellowish or white. The fruit is a capsule 1-2 cm across. The seeds are an irregular shape and 4 mm across.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in lowland areas and on hills up to 1,000 m above sea level. It grows on lower hills in Java. It is normally grown among trees. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, India, Indonesia (country/location of origin), Malaysia, SE Asia

How it is used for food

The seeds are used as a spice in cakes and drinks.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Seed, fruit capsule, spice, flowers

How it is grown

It is planted from small pieces of the rhizome. It can be grown from seed.

Plants flower and fruit after 3 years.

Its other names

Local names

Buah pelaga, Cluster cardamomum, Java cardamom, Kalulaga jawa, Kepulaga, Pelaga, Pelaga Jawa, Puar

Synonyms

Alpinia striata Link; Amomum cardamomum Willd. [Illegitimate]; Amomum kepulaga Sprague & Burkill; Zingiber compactum (Sol. ex Maton) Stokes;