Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/701

Rh 3-partite, segments once or twice trifid, coarsely toothed at the apex. Peduncle O-¼in.. leaf-oppossed ; rays of the umbel 5-10, 1/12-1½in;, pedicels 6-10, 1/24-⅛in - Fruit 1/16-1/12in.; ridges narrow, vittæ broad, occupying the whole breadth of the furrows

Parts used : — Roots and seeds

Uses : — Not mentioned in the ancient works of Hindoo medicine. The Mahomedan writers describe it as deobstruent and resolvent, and use it internally as a pectoral, and as a tonic and carminative adjunct to purgatives, also as a diuretic, emmenagogue, lithontriptic, and alexipharmic (Dymock).

The officinal root is considered alterative and diuretic, and given in anasarca and colic. The seeds also are given as stimulant and cordial.

As an antispasmodic, they are used in bronchitis, asthma, and to some extent for liver and spleen diseases, and said to be emmenagogue. Hakims consider it injurious in epilepsy (Honnigberger).

Sans. : — Sushavi.

Vern.:— - Sîáh jîrâ, zîrâ (H.) ; Jîra (B.) ; Zira siâh (Pb.) ; Gûnyûn (Kashmir and Chenab.) ; Wilâyati-zirâh (Bom.) ; Shimai-shombu, Kekku-virai (Tam.) ; Shimaisapu (Tel.).

Eng. : — Caraway.

Habitat : — Cultivated for its seeds on the plains and hills of India.

An annual, glabrous herb. Stem l-3ft. Branches erect or diffuse. Leaves 2-pinnate, finely dissected ; ultimate segments of the lower leaves ⅛-1/6in. ; lanceolate of the upper leaves, ¼-1in;, linear. Bracts 1-3, small, linear, or O, rarely divided, bracteoles small, linear or O. Rays 3-8, ¼-2in., unequal ; pedicels 3-8, 1/20-½in-, unequal. Fruit elliptic-oblong, ⅛-1/6in., yellowish-brown, almost viscid. Carpels terete, narrowed upwards, primary ridges thin, but very distinct; vittæ solitary, rather large; carpophore entire, or shortly 2-fid.

Uses : — Mahomedan writers describe the fruits as aromatic, carminative and astringent ; from them they prepare an eye-wash which is supposed to strengthen the sight ; they are