This species is closely related to Amomum villosum xanthioides, differing mainly in its seed capsule, which is purple in this species when mature and fresh[].

Common Name:

General Information

Amomum villosum is a vigorous perennial herb producing leafy stems up to 3 metres tall from a creeping rhizome[].
The fruit is sometimes gathered from the wild for food and medicinal purposes. The plant is occasionally cultivated in countries such as China and India[, ].
A widespread and common taxon with no significant threats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southern China, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam.

Habitat

Forests at elevations of 600 - 800 metres in southwest China[]. Forests, often in mountainous areas, and usually on wet soils[]. Lowland evergreen and deciduous forest, usually in clearings, also in evergreen montane forest[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	3.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants are cultivated in wet and shady places in sparse forests[].

Edible Uses

The fruits are used as a spice and condiment[, ]. The fruit is up to 2 cm long, reddish-brown and covered by small spines[]. It is difficult to break into 3 fragments[].

Medicinal

In Chinese and Vietnamese traditional medicine the fruits are used to treat indigestion, diarrhoea, flatulence, toothache, and as febrifuge and antiseptic[].

The seeds are antibacterial and stomachic[]. They are used in the treatment of dyspepsia, colic, flatulence, diarrhoea, vomiting and oedema[]. They are an ingredient in a formula used to treat threatened abortions[].
The powdered seed is applied to carious patches on the teeth to ease toothache[].
The fruit is collected in summer and autumn and dried before the seeds are removed for use[].

An essential oil from the seeds consists of delta-camphor, delta-borneol, delta-bornyl acetate, delta-limonene, alpha-pinene, phellandrene, paramethoxyethyl cinnamate, nerolidol and linalol. The seeds also contain liquiritin and glucovanillic acid[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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