Aframomum melegueta is a species in the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. It is commonly known as Guinea pepper, Melegueta pepper, alligator pepper an Guinea grains. Grains of paradise, a West African spice that gives a pungent, peppery flavor, is obtained from this plant. It is a herbaceous perennial plant native to swampy habitats along the West African coast. Its trumpet-shaped, purple flowers develop into 5 to 7 cm long pods containing numerous small, reddish-brown seeds.