Elettaria cardamomum is a pungent, aromatic, herbaceous, perennial plant, growing to about 2β4 m (6 ft 7 in β 13 ft 1 in) in height. The leaves are alternate in two ranks, linear-lanceolate, 40β60 cm (16β24 in) long, with a long pointed tip. The flowers are white to lilac or pale violet, produced in a loose spike 30β60 cm (12β24 in) long. The fruit is a three-sided yellow-green pod 1β2 cm (0.39β0.79 in) long, containing several (15-20) black and brown seeds. From Wikipedia