Trachyspermum ammi (L)Sprague
NOMENCLATURE
Trachyspermum: from Greek, ___________:
rough. & spermum : seeded.
ammi: name of plant in Latin.
PREVIOUS NAMES: T. capticum. Ammi capticum. Carum capticum
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
TYPE: glabrous annual. AROMA: fruit aromatic. STEMS: hollow, striate, much branched.
UMBELS: compound. 5-10 (20) smooth or sparsely puberulent rays .
lcm.Peduncle > than rays. Hermaphrodite.
LEAVES: lower 2-3 pinnatisect, withered by flrng time, long petiolate. Lobes 1-2 cm, linear or
filiforn. Upper leaves smaller, similar, or simply pinnatisect. Shortly petiolate, short sheathing base.
BRACTS: 4-5, linear, sometimes lobed. Bracteoles 3-6, linear-lanceolate. Sparseley puberulent.
FLOWERS: white, Sepals small, acute. Petals hairy beneath. Styles form a stylopodium. Fl 9.
FRUIT: 15-20mm, ovoid, laterally compressed. Covered in grey papillae. Commisure narrow.
Mericarps with prominent ridges. Carpophore present. Vittae solitary. Pedicels 1-4mm, hairy.
Styles x2 > as stylopodium, recurved. Stigma capitate. 2n=18.
HABITAT: rubbish tips.
DISTRIBUTION: native to E. Mediterranean.
MEDICINAL USES
EFFECT: tonic, diuretic, expectorant, relaxes spasms, improves digestion,
increases persipiration, antiseptic.
PARTS: seeds, oil.
APPLICATION: internally for colds, coughs, influenza, asthma, diarrhoea, cholera, colic, indegestion,wind,oedema, arthritis, rheumatism. Externally for vaginal discharge, rheumatism.
EDIBLE USES
Fruit used for flavouring curries, pulses, bread, pastry snacks in India, Iran, Afghanistan.
