Cardamom of commerce is the dried ripe fruit (capsules of cardamom plant) often referred asthe Queen of Spices because of its very pleasant aroma and taste. Cardamom is a perennial, herbaceous, rhizomatous plant. Based on the nature of panicles, three varieties are recognizedviz. Malabar with prostrate panicle, Mysore with erect panicle, and Vazhukka with semi erectpanicle. Plants are of medium size (2 to 3 mtr height) with pubescent leaves (on the dorsalside) and fruits globose in the case of Malabar, whereas plant robust (3 to 4 mtr height) withleaves glabrous on both sides with ovoid capsules in the case of Mysore. Vazhukka variety is amix of both the above in physical characteristics.