Tepus batu
Meistera ochrea

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A ginger family herb. It has underground stems or rhizomes which produce leafy shoots. These occur 5-12 cm apart. They can have separate flower stalks. The leafy shoots are 1-5 m tall. The lower section only has leaf sheaths. The leaf stalk is 1-3 cm long. The blade is oblong and 40-52 cm long by 8-10 cm wide. The base is rounded. The tip has a point 5 cm long. The flowering spike is 5 cm long. It becomes 10 cm long when fruiting. The flowers are 3 cm by 3 cm and orange-yellow. They have red veins and spots. The fruit is round and 4.5 cm across. It has a few blunt, fleshy spines. The seeds are irregular and about 1 cm long.

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

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It occurs in the hills of Peninsula Malaysia at moderate altitudes.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, SE Asia

How it is used for food

The seed are used as a cardamom substitute.

Edible parts

Seeds, spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Amomum ochreum Ridley;