The useful Brazilian cardamom (Zingiberaceae) first described as Elettaria brasiliensis by Raddi

Abstract

The type of Elettaria brasiliensis was discovered at the herbarium in Pisa. The Italian naturalist Giuseppe Raddi collected this in Brazil in 1818 and published the name in 1828 and placed it in the genus, the type of which is green cardamom, E. cardamomum, native to Indian subcontinent. A close examination reveals that it belongs in the African-Neotropical genus Renealmia. As the epithet is already occupied, Raddi's species will be a synonym of Renealmia chrysotricha and thus there is no taxonomic implication of the discovery. This species is endemic in the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil, where the seeds are used for medicinal and other purposes and referred to as Brazilian cardamom. We include a list of eight synonyms, two of which are new, an updated description including recent photographs taken in the wild, a distribution map and a preliminary Red List assessment following IUCN criteria. Lectotypes are designated for Elettaria brasiliensis and Renealmia reticulata and a neotype for Renealmia pycnostachys.