622 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
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 laotagogue. 
The essential oil distilled from the fruits contains two valuable consti- 
tuents,^, Carvone, formerly, Carvol, and carvene or limovene, specific gravity 
varies between 0 907 and 0 915. 
571. C. Bulbocastanum, Koch, h.f.b.i., ti. 681. 
V 'em. :■ — Siyah zira, Kala jirah (H ) ; Guni yun (Kashmir) ; 
umbhu (Ladakh'. 
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-pinuate, finally dissected ; 
ultimate segments of all leaves linear, of the lower often <J-lin., 
of the upper leaves very narrow. Bracts 0, or several linear, 
sometimes divided; bracteoles 0-8 linear. Rays 6-16, 1 ^in. ; 
pedicles 10-15. i U n - ; fruit oblong, not narrowed upwards, 
■g-fin. ; yellowish-brown, almost viscid ; carpels exactly 
oblong, hardly widened at the middle, semi-terete, dorsally 
sub-compressed ; ridges thin, distinct ; vittae 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 Reporter On Economic Products in response to 
a question put by the Indian Chambers of Commerce, resulted in the collec- 
tion of specimens of zerah (airu) 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. Bulbocastanum 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 
