Amomum nilgiricum V. P. Thomas & M. Sabu

Clump forming herb. Rhizome non-stoloniferous, stout, robust, 2−4 cm thick, robust, creamy-white inside, sheathed with scales; scales ovate to triangular, chartaceous, c. 1.8 × 2 cm, apex nearly rounded, pubescent externally. Leafy shoots 200−400 cm tall, robust, clump forming; sheath 2.5−4.5 cm wide at base, green, densely pubescent externally. Leaves 14−20 per leafy shoot; lamina lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, 32−41 × 6.5−8 cm, base cuneate, margin slightly straight, apex acuminate to 3 cm long, puberulous to glabrous and green on upper surface, tomentose and pale beneath; midrib hispid beneath; veins appressed above; petiole 2−8 mm long, pale green, wooly tomentose. Ligule entire, lanceolate, 4.5−9 cm long, chartaceous, drying, persistent, apex acute, pubescent to tomentose externally, glabrous within. Inflorescence 7−15 cm long, many flowered, arise from the rhizome under soil; peduncle 3.5−7.5 cm long. Bract oblong, 3−4.7 × 1.6−2.1 cm, coriaceous, red, margin ciliate, apex slightly emarginate, pubescent externally, glabrous internally. Bracteole tubular, 2-lobed, 2.2−2.5 × 0.5−0.6 cm, unequally split, membranous, red, margin ciliate, apex acute, pubescent externally, glabrous within. Flower 4.7−5.2 cm long, yellow; pedicel 5 mm long. Calyx 2 or 3-lobed, 2.4−2.8 × 0.4 cm, pale red, membranous, split nearly equal, margin ciliate, apex acute, pubescent externally, glabrous within. Corolla tube 2.5−3 cm long, c. 4 mm wide at mouth, pale yellow, pubescent externally, glabrous internally except near mouth; dorsal corolla lobe oblong, 1.4−1.6 × 0.7−0.8 cm, yellow, margin ciliate, apex hooded, ecuspidate, pubescent externally, glabrous within; lateral corolla lobes oblong, 1.4−1.6 × 04−0.6 cm, yellow, margin ciliate, apex nearly rounded, one side slightly folded, pubescent outside, glabrous within. Labellum obovate to rhomboid, 1.4−1.5 × 1−1.2 cm, uniform yellow, margin entire, apex clefted, pubescent inside along the median part. Lateral staminodes absent. Stamen 1.1−1.2 cm long; filament 4−5 × 2.5−3 mm, pale yellow, broader towards base, rarely minutely pubescent; connective rarely pubescent externally; crest inconspicuous, c. 3 × 1 mm, yellow, apex emarginate, rarely puberulous; anther thecae oblong, 6−7 mm long, creamy-white, base nearly rounded, apex rounded, pubescent; dehiscing throughout their length. Epigynous glands 2, oblong, 3−4 mm long, cream coloured, apex truncate, rarely puberulous. Ovary globose, 4−5 × 4 mm, densely pubescent externally; locules 3; ovules many on axile placentae; style 3.4−3.7 cm long, pubescent towards tip, glabrous towards base; stigma, tubular, c. 1 mm across, pale yellow, mouth ciliate, opening terminal. Capsule 8−10 per spike, globose, 2−3 × 2−3 cm, red, echinate, spines stout, pubescent externally, calyx not persistent. Seeds many, slightly oblong, 4−5 × c. 3 mm, black, aromatic, arillate, glabrous; aril white.

Known only from type locality, Silent Valley National Park, Western Ghats, Kerala in the evergreen forest above 1210 m.