Amomum

( Bot. ) A genus of aromatic herbs, belonging to the Zingiber acesæ or Ginger family. The rootstocks are jointed, creeping; the leaves placed in two rows, sheathing at the base, lance-shaped, and undivided at the margin. The flowers, in a spike or cluster, are provided with bracts, and but little raised above the ground; there is but one stamen, whose filament is prolonged beyond the two-celled anther, so as to form a more or le lobed crest; the capsule is three celled, and opens, when ripe, by three pieces, so as to liberate the numerous small seeds. These plants are natives of India, the islands of the Indian Archipelago, . Their seeds are aromatic and stimulant, and form, with other seeds of similar plants, what are known as Cardamoms, of which there are many kinds. Attare, Malaguett, Pepper, or Grains of Paradise, are the seeds of one, perhaps two, species of this genus, A. Grana Para dis i, (Fig. 6,) and A. Meleguetta. They are imported from Guinea, and have a very warm, slightly camphor-like taste. These seeds are made use of illegally to give a fictitious strength to spirits and beer, but they are not particularly injurious. Amphiarthrosis, ( am -fe-ar-throsis,) п. [From amphi , on all sides, and Gr. arthrosis, articulation.] ( Med .) A mixed articulation, in which the corresponding surfaces of bones are united in an intimate manner by an intermediate body, which allows, however, of some slight motion. Such is the junction of the bodies of the vertebræ by means of the intervertebral cartilages.