Slender cardamom, Ela-ela
Wurfbainia gracilis
Family: Zingiberaceae
What it is like
A ginger family herb. There is a small creeping rhizome and branched runners or stolons. It has slender leafy stems 110 cm tall. These are swollen at the base. The leaves are sword shaped and 25-35 cm long by 3-4 cm wide. The flowering shoot is short and 5.5 cm long. The fruit is 1-1.5 cm long with 3 grooves. They are red and have small straight prickles.
There are about 150 Amomum species. They are mostly tropical. The fruit are chewed for nausea and indigestion.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows below 100 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Indonesia (country/location of origin), Malaysia, SE Asia
How it is used for food
The leaves are used as a spice and flavouring.
Edible parts
Seeds, spice, leaves - flavouring
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Ela-ela, Serkom