Silky dogwood, or Cornus amomum - Leaves and Berries

Amomum is a genus of plant, including several types of cardamom, especially black cardamom. Plants of this genus are remarkable for their pungency and aromatic properties.

Among ancient writers, the name amomum was ascribed to various odoriferous plants that cannot be positively identified today. The word derives from Latin amomum, which is the latinisation of the Greek ἄμωμον (amomon), a kind of an Indian spice plant.

See List of Amomum species for a complete list.

Cornus amomum (Silky Dogwood) is a species of dogwood native to eastern North America, from Ontario and Quebec south to Arkansas and Georgia. Also found in other parts of North America.

It is a deciduous shrub growing to 5 m tall. The leaves are opposite, 10 cm long and 7 cm broad, oval with an acute apex. The flowers are produced in cymes. The fruit is a small blue drupe.