N. 0. UHBELLIFER®. 
633 
Use : — Mahomedan writers describe them as sedative, 
pectoral and carminative ; they prepare an eyewash from them 
which is suppossed to prevent small-p'ox 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 (J)ymock). 
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. Cuminum Cvminum, Linn , h.f.b.i., n.718, 
Roxb. 271. 
Sans Jiraku. 
Vern. : — Zint (PI.); Jira(B. and Bomb.); Jir (Mar.); Shiragam 
(Tam.) ; 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 braxrteoles several, linear, rigid. 
Calyx-teeth small, subulate, unequal. Petals oblong or obovate, 
emarginate, white, often unequal. Fruit cylindric, tip narrowed ; 
primary ridge filiform, distinct ; secondary usually hispidulous ; 
vittoe 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 lias nine ridges instead of five.” (Duthie . 
BO 
