Pliny: Natural History, Vol. IV

47 XXVII. Hazelwort also has the property of nard, and indeed some people call it silvestre nardum wild nard. It has ivy leaves, though they are rounder and softer, a purple flower, the root of Gallic nard, and seed like grape-stones, which has a warm, wine-like taste. It flowers twice a year on shady mountains. The best grows in Pontus, the next best in Phrygia, and the third in Illyricum. It is dug up when it begins to shed its leaves and is dried in the sun, as it quickly becomes mouldy and loses its strength. A plant has also recently been found in Thrace whose leaves do not differ at all from Indian nard.

48 XXVIII. Clustered amomum original: "Amomi uva" is used from the Indian wild-vine, or as others have supposed, from a twisted shrub a palm high; it is plucked with its root and gently arranged in bundles, being immediately fragile. The most highly praised kind is similar to the pomegranate leaf, not wrinkled, and red in colour. The second best is pale, the grass-coloured is worse, and the worst is white, which also occurs with age. 49 The price of the cluster is 60 denarii, but for crushed amomum 48 denarii. It grows in the part of Armenia called Otene, and in Media and Pontus. It is adulterated with pomegranate leaves and liquid gum, so that it adheres and curls itself in the manner of a cluster.

There is also what is called amomis, less veined, harder, and less fragrant, from which it appears that it is either something else or that it is gathered unripe.

1 Is it "and smaller"? compares with Dioscorides Detlefsen.
2 "ex" added by Dalec.
3 "aut" added by Ian.
4 Mayhoff compares with § 49: "montuoso" or "myrtuoso".
5 Mayhoff: "Punicis".

a Both amomum and cardamomum (now called cardamom) refer to Elettaria cardamomum.
b The plant really grew much further east, but much of it was imported through Armenia and Pontus.

Hazelwort.

XXVII. Hazelwort also has the property of nard, indeed some people actually call it ‘wild nard.’ It has the leaves of the ivy, only rounder and softer, a purple flower, the root of Gallic nard, and seed like grape-stones, which has a warm taste with a flavour of wine. On shady mountains it flowers twice a year. The best variety grows in Pontus, the next best in Phrygia and the third in Illyricum. When it begins to shed its leaves it is dug up and dried in the sun, as it quickly becomes mouldy and loses its strength. A plant has also lately been found in Thrace the leaves of which do not differ at all from the Indian nard.

Amomum.

XXVIII. The clustered amomum a is much in use; it is obtained from the Indian wild-vine, or as other people have supposed from a twisted shrub a hand high, and it is plucked with its root and then gently pressed together into bundles, as it is liable to break at once. The kind most highly spoken of is the one with leaves like those of the pomegranate and devoid of wrinkles, coloured red. The second best kind is of a pale colour; the grass-coloured one is not so good, and the white kind is the worst; it also goes white with age. The price of clustered amomum is 60 denarii a pound, but as dust it fetches only 48 denarii. It grows in the part of Armenia called Otene, and also in Media and in Pontus. b It is adulterated with the leaves of the pomegranate and with liquid gum to make the leaves stick together and form a cluster like a bunch of grapes.

Amomis.

There is also another substance called amomis, which is not so full of veins and is harder and has less scent, showing that it is either a different plant or amomum that has been gathered unripe.