Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Amomum cardamomum in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 1.
today: The current name for this species is Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton
original Latin description
Amomum scapo bracteis alternis laxis caule breviore.
English translation
Amomum with a scape with bracts alternate [and] open, [that (i.e., the scape) is] than the stem shorter.
| Amomum | Amomum |
| with a scape | scapo - ablative singular of 2nd declension masculine noun scapus, -i |
| with bracts | bracteis - ablative plural of 1st declension feminine noun bractea, -ae |
| alternate | alternis - ablative plural feminine of group A adjective alternus, -a, -um; modifies bracteis |
| [and] | added for smoother reading |
| open | laxis - ablative plural feminine of group A adjective laxus, -a, -um; modifies bracteis |
| [that (i.e., the scape) is] | added for smoother reading |
| than the stem | caule - ablative singular of 3rd declension masculine noun caulis, -is |
| shorter. | breviore - ablative singular masculine of comparative degree of group B adjective brevis, -is, -e; modifies scapo |