Aframomum is a genus of flowering plants in the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. It is widespread across tropical Africa as well as on some islands of the Indian Ocean (Madagascar, Seychelles, and Mauritius).[2] It is represented by approximately 50 species. Its species are perennials and produce colorful flowers.[3] Several aromatic species with essential oils present in fruits, seeds, leaves, stems, rhizomes, and other plant parts are either edible or used as medicine in Africa.[citation needed]
Aframomum melegueta (Melegueta pepper) is an economically important edible crop in West Africa.[4]
^The genus Aframomum was first published as a taxon in Das Pflanzenreich ["The Plant Kingdom"] IV. 46(Heft 20): 201. 1904, with no type species given. "Name – Aframomum K.Schum". Tropicos. Saint Louis, Missouri: Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 18 June 2011. Note: type not designated
^Tane, Pierre; Tatsimo, Simplice D.; Ayimele, Godfred A.; Connolly, Joseph D. Bioactive metabolites from Aframomum species. 11th NAPRECA Symposium Book of Proceedings. Antananarivo, Madagascar. pp. 214–223. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
^Blench, Roger (2006). Archaeology, language, and the African past. Altamira Press. ISBN9780759104655.
