Cardamom green

Green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is a plant from the gingerfamily (Zingiberaceae). There are two varieties of this species that are used: the Malabar cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton var. cardamomum) and the less commonly used Ceylon cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum var. major Thwaites). Malabar cardamom also serves as the parent plant for Cardamomi fructus, a drug used medicinally. Mostly the seeds of the plant are used, sometimes also the entire dried capsule fruits.

Elettaria cardamomum is a perennial plant and grows between 2 and 3 metres tall. The original distribution area of cardamom is in South India, Sri Lanka, Iraq and Thailand.

The plant forms a rooted rhizome as a survival organ. The green cardamom has many lancet-shaped leaves. The inflorescence grows out of a side shoot that creeps flat above the ground and reaches growth heights of up to 1.5 metres. The strawy capsule fruits are greenish-yellowish in colour. Each fruit compartment contains four to eight irregularly shaped, greyish to reddish brown seeds.

Elettaria cardamomum is the parent plant of Cardamomi fructus the cardamom.