ELETTARIA CARDAMOMUM. TV h . and Mat.
cardamomum, Elettaria, L.and Pharm. Amomum repens, Woody. Var. ,e6. E. cardamornum Am. ^cardamon-111m, '.„ Minor, Rheede.
Am. racernosum, Lanz. Var. Is. E. cardamomum Cardamomum minus. major, Smith.
Kakula, Ebil, AHAB. Barra Ilachi, . . HIND.
Pa-lah, Ba-la, . . BURN. Capulaga, Puwar Maw'.
Cardamom plant, ., ENG. , . . . True, Lesser, Long - Kakelah-seghar, . PERS.
cardamom, . . „ Dokeswa,. . . SYLHET.
Wild card. of Calcutta, „ Ela cheddi, . . TAM. Choti Mehl, . . Him). Elaki chettu, . . TEL. Guzemti . „ Yela kulu, Samna elaki, „ The various vernacular names and the botanical synonyms wit. show that both the scientific and the unscientific world have believed that the round and conical-seeded cardamoms are the products of two species ; but Mr. Thwaites, after a careful comparison of growing specimens, was satisfied that the plants producing respectively the round and the long cardamoms of commerce are not distinct species, but merely two varieties of the present species. In every essential particular the structure is- similar in the two plants,-the only difference being that var. a, which produces the round cardamom, is a little taller, with rather narrower. and less firm leaves, and that its fruit is more aromatic as well as different in form from that of var. 13. The seeds of both varieties are used by the Singhalese to chew with their betel, and as medicines. The long cardamom, called Ensal in Ceylon, grows wild in, the Ceylon forests up to 3000 feet ; but the round cardamom is there only a cultivated plant, and is called by the Singhalese Rata-ensal. The wild or Ceylon cardamoms are of less value in the market than those of Malabar. In the Travancore forests •they are found at elevations of three or five thousand feet. The mode of obtaining them is to clear the forest of trees, when the plants spontaneously grow up in the cleared ground. Before the commencement of the rains in June, the cultivators seek the shadiest and woocliest sides of the loftier hills ; the 4ees are felled, and the gromad cleared of weeds ; and in about three months the cardamom plant springs up. In four years the shrub will have
attained its full height, when the fruit is produced; and gathered iu the month of November, requiring no other preparation than drying in the sun. The plant continues to yield fruit till the seventh year, when the, stem is cut down, pew shoots arising from the stumps, They may also be raised from seeds, 'Cardamoms are much esteemed as a condi ment, and great quantities axe annually shipped to Europe from Malabar and Travancore. In commerce there are three varieties, known as the short, short-longs, and the long-longs. Of these the short are more coarsely ribbed, of a brown colour, and are called the Malabar cardamoms or Wynad cardamoms. They are reckoned the best of. the three. The long-longs are more finely ribbed, and of a paler colour. The seeds are white and shrivelled. 'The short-longs merely differ from the latter 'in being shorter or less pointed. It is usual to mix the several kinds together when ready for exportation. Some care is required in the process of 'drying the seeds, as rain causes the seed-vessels to split, and otherwise injures them ; and if kept tcio long in the sun, their flavour be comes deteriorated. In Travancore they are chiefly procured from the high lands overlookino. the t, • . .
Dindigul, Madura, and Tinnevelly districts. In these mountains the cultivators make separate gardens for them, as they thrive better if a little care and attention be bestowed upon them. Car-: darnoms are a monopoly in the Travancore State, and cultivators come chiefly frona the British provinces, obtaining about 200 or 210 rupees for every candy delivered over to the Travancore Government. The average number of candies for the years 1845-54 was about 300.—H. 7). i Thw. En. Pl. Zeyl. p. 318. See cardamoms.