N. 0. UMBELLIFERJ3. 633 



Use : — Mahomedan writers describe them as sedative, 

 pectoral and carminative ; they prepare an eyewash from them 

 which is suppossed to prevent small-pox from destroying the 

 sight, and to be useful in chronic conjunctivitis. It is also 

 thought to lessen the intoxicating effects of spirituous prepara- 

 tions, and, with barley meal, to form a useful poultice for 

 indolent swellings (Dymock). 



In native practice, is used as a carminative, refrigerant, 

 diuretic, tonic and aphrodisiac. The dried fruit and the 

 volatile oil are used as an aromatic stimulant in colic. The 

 seeds' are chewed to correct foul breath. 



It is officinal in both Indian and British Pharmacopoeias. 



The juice of the fresh plant is used as an application to 

 erythema caused by the application of marking nut ; the 

 bruised plant is a cooling application in cases of headache 

 (Sakharam Arjun). 



584. Guminum Cyminum, Linn, h.f.b.i., ii. 718, 

 Roxb. 271. 



Sajis :— Jiraku. 



Vern. : — Zira (H.j; Jira (B. and Bomb.); Jir (Mar.); Shiragam 

 (Tarn.) ; Jiraka (Tel.). 



Habitat : — Extensively cultivated in Rajputana and other 

 parts of North India. 



A slender, annual herb, glabrous except the fruit. Leaves 

 twice or thrice 3-partite, ultimate segment filiform. Umbels 

 compound, rays few ; bract and bracteoles several, linear, rigid. 

 Calyx-teeth small, subulate, unequal. Petals obloug or obovate, 

 emarginate, white, often unequal. Fruit cylindric, tip narrowed ; 

 primary ridge filiform, distinct ; secondary usually hispidulous ; 

 vittse large, solitary under each secondary ridge ; corpophore 

 2-partite or 2-fid. Seed somewhat dorsally compressed, convexo- 

 concave. 



" The fruits resemble very much those of the Carraicay, 

 but they are larger and of a lighter colour, and each half of the 

 fruit has nine ridges instead of five." (Duthie). 



80 



