The difference between grass fruit and cardamom

Grass fruit is the fruit of Zingiberaceae cardamom plant, alias grass nut, grass fruit, etc., cardamom is the dry nearly mature seed of ginger plant cardamom, the grass fruit sold on the market is not pure, it is often mixed with grass cardamom which is similar in name and similar in appearance. Let's take a look at the difference between them.

Morphological characteristics of grass and fruit

Grass fruit is the fruit of Zingiberaceae plant grass fruit, alias grass nut, grass fruit. The dried fruit is long oval in shape, 2 cm ~ 4 cm long and 1 cm ~ 2.5 cm in diameter, with a style residue at the top, with a stalk at the base, a gray-white to reddish brown surface, a significant longitudinal groove and lines, a thick and tough stalk, and easy to tear longitudinally. The seed mass is divided into 3 lobes, there is a yellowish brown septum between the petals, 8 ~ 11 seeds per petal, the seeds are conical polyhedron and the surface is reddish brown. The outer gray-white membranous aril has a pit (hilum) at the narrower end, the seed quality is hard, after breaking, the inside is gray-white, the gas is weak, the seed gives off a special stench when the seed is broken, and the taste is pungent and slightly bitter.

Morphological characteristics of cardamom

Cardamom is the seed group of Zingiberaceae plant cardamom, alias cardamom, grass cardamom. The dry seed mass is quasi-spherical, 1.5 cm ~ 3.0 cm in length, 1.5 cm ~ 2.7 cm in diameter, the surface is grayish brown, the seed mass is divided into 3 valves, there is a white diaphragm between the petals, each flap has 22 ~ 100 seeds, the seeds are oval polyhedron, covered with a layer of white transparent aril, the seed navel is located on the dorsal side, the seed ridge is a longitudinal groove, the seed quality is hard, broken, the inside is gray-white, fragrant and spicy.

The difference between grass fruit and cardamom

1. Surface color difference: grass fruit grayish brown to reddish brown, cardamom grayish yellow to grayish brown.

2. The difference of seed characters: the septum color of herbaceous fruit seeds is yellowish brown, and the number of seeds per petal is 8 ~ 11, which has special odor. The septum color of cardamom seeds is white, with 22 ~ 100 seeds per petal.

3, the difference of nature and taste: the taste of grass and fruit is pungent, warm, non-toxic, entering the spleen and stomach meridians. Cardamom taste pungent, sexual temperature, into the spleen, stomach meridian.

4. The difference of efficacy: grass fruit has the effects of drying dampness and removing cold, eliminating phlegm and intercepting malaria, invigorating spleen and appetizer, promoting diuresis and detumescence. And cardamom has the effect of dryness and dampness, warming and relieving vomiting.