150 ODOROGRAPHIA. 



conforming to the others ; calyx ahnost glabrous ; teeth of upper 

 lip short, ovate, and the segments of the lower lip subulate, 

 ciliated. Syn. T. graveolens, Sibthorp and Smith, Flone graecae 

 prodromus, vi., p. 61, t. 576. 



Ajowan. 



This small umbelliferous annual herb, commonly known as 

 " True Bishop's Weed," is the Ptychotis Ajowan of D. C. ; Ammi 

 Copticum, Lin. ; and Ligusticum Ajoivan, Eoxb. Flor. Ind., ii., p. 91; 

 Boissier Flor. Orient., ii., p. 891 ; Lindley Flor. Med., p. 36 ; Wight 

 Icones Flor. Ind. Orient., t. 566 ; Bentley & Trinien Med. Plant, t. 

 120 ; Pharraacographia, p. 271 ; Pharm. Journ. [1], xiv., p. 272, 

 also [3] i., p. 1,007 with figure of the seed. 



The oriental vernacular names, collected and verified by Modeen 

 Sheriff are : — 



Arabic Kamune-muluki 



Persian Nankhah and Zinyan 



Hindustani Ajvayan 



Dukhni Ajvan 



Tamul Omam 



Telegu Omamu or Vamamu 



Malayalim Ayamodakam and Homam 



Canarese Voma 



Bengali Ajvain or Ajvan 



Mahratta Yova-sada and Yova 



Gujerati Ajwan 



Cincfhalese Assamodao;un or Omam 



Burmese Samhum 



This plant is cultivated in many parts of Egypt, Persia, 

 Afghanistan and abundantly in Bengal. Botanically it is thus 

 described : — Stem erect, dichotomous ; leaves few, cut into 

 numerous linear or filiform segments, the uppermost simply 

 pinnate ; umbel with 7-9 rays ; involucre few-leaved ; leaflets 

 linear, entire, fruit strongly ribbed, covered with small blunt 

 tubercles (which are especially evident on examination by a lens), 

 by which and by their thyme-like odour they may be distinguished 

 from the seeds of Apium graveolens, A. involucratum and 

 A. petroselinuvi, which in shape they much resemble, although 

 they are smaller than caraways or any umbelliferous fruits 

 imported into Europe. The fruits vary in size from yV^h to ^o^^^ 



