622 INDIAN MEDICINAL f>IANTS. 



used as a pectoral, and considered diuretic and anthelmintic. 

 A caraway bath is recommended for painful swelling of the 

 womb, and a poultice for painful and protruding piles. 

 (Dymock). 



Used in native practice as lactagogue. 

 The essential oil distilled from the fruits contains two valuable consti- 

 tuents,^., Car vone, formerly, Carvol, and carvene or limonene, specific gravity- 

 varies between 0907 and 0*915. 



571. C. Bulboeastanum, Koch, h.f.b.i., ti. 681. 



Vern. : — Siyah zira, Kala jirah (H ) ; Guni yun (Kashmir) ; 

 umbhu (LadakhA 



Habitat : — Kashmir, Beluchistan, Afghanistan, Lahaul, 

 Chamba, eastward to Garhwal and Kumaon, and westward to 

 Quetta. 



Perennial, glabrous herbs. Root tuberous. Stem 6-30in. ; 

 erect, branched. Leaves 2-3-pinnate, finally dissected ; 

 ultimate segments of all leaves linear, of the lower often ^-lin., 

 of the upper leaves very narrow. Bracts 0, or several linear, 

 sometimes divided ; bracteoles 0-8 linear. Rays 6-16, 1 Jin. ; 

 pedicles 10-15. f-jin. ; fruit oblong, not narrowed upwards. 

 ■§-|in. ; yellowish-brown, almost viscid ; carpels exactly 

 oblong, hardly widened at the middle, semi-terete, dorsally 

 sub-compressed ; ridges thin, distinct ; vittas solitary, rather 

 large. 



Use :— - The seeds are used for similar purposes as those of 

 C. Carui. 



I found this very useful as a carminative. It is used in 

 Quetta to protect warm clothes and skins against the ravages of 

 insects. B. D. B.. 



An inquiry instituted by the Reportar On Economic Products in response to 

 a question put by the Indian Chambers of Commerce, resulted in the collec- 

 tion of specimens of zerah {zira) from the chief towns of India as well as of the 

 fruits (seeds) and plants from all known areas of supply. The fruits in every 

 instance were found to be C. Bulboeastanum and not C. Carui (except when 

 stated to be a foreign or imported drug). The examination showed, however, 

 that other seeds are often used as adulterants or substitutes for black 

 caraway. The adulterants were similar in shape, size and markings, but 

 quite destitute of the characteristic aroma. For example, Mr. L. G. Smith, 

 Forest Divisional Officer of Sambulpur, sent four samples from the local 

 bazars which were subsequently identified as (1) the true Caraway {mita 



