Carum carvi L.

Ghazanfar, S. A. & Edmondson, J. R (Eds). (2014) Flora of Iraq, Volume 5 Part 2: Lythraceae to Campanulaceae.

Morphology General Habit

Glabrous biennial or perennial herb with a short incrassate-fusiform rootstock, branched considerably from base and also above, (10–)25–80 cm; stem and branches ± striate with pale, raised lines

Morphology Leaves

Leaf outline deltoid-lanceolate to linear-oblong, all lower leaves petiolate with a long, narrowly oblong, membranous-margined sheath, uppermost leaves sessile and rapidly reducing with fewer and narrower segments Leaves bipinnate with pinnatisect pinnae, ultimate segments linearlanceolate, mucronate, 1–1.5 mm wide

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Partial umbels of 8–15 white or pink tinged flowers, involucel absent or of 1–3 small bracteoles much shorter than the longest of the very unequal 1–10 mm pedicels Umbels numerous, terminal and leaf-opposed, with 5(–15) very unequal (2–)5–40 mm rays; bracts of involucre none or up to ± 5, small and membranous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles

Peduncles (15–)3–9 cm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit narrowly oblong to ovoid, dark brown with paler ribs, 3–5 × 2–3 mm, stylopodia conical, small, ovoid

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Styles short, divaricate or incurved, slightly exceeding stylopodia.

Ecology

Perhaps sometimes cultivated and occasionally naturalized; alt. ± 230 m

Phenology

Flowering and fruiting: Apr.

Distribution

Apparently very rare in Iraq; only found once in the moist-steppe zone. Most of N & C Europe to N Spain, N Italy, W Russia, Cyprus (probably a naturalized escape from gardens), N Africa, Palestine (cult.), Egypt (cult.), Turkey (widely cultivated and often naturalized), Caucasus, N Iran, Afghanistan, C Asia (Turkmenistan to Tian Shan), Siberia, Himalaya, China; introduced into New Zealand, N America.

Note

Caraway, Common Caraway; KARĀWIYĀ (as spelled by Ibn al-Baitar), or KARAUYĀ (as more usually spelled in Arabic).

Use

The dry aromatic fruits of this species, known as caraway seeds, have been widely used as a spice in many countries from time immemorial. Caraway oil is obtained by steam distillation of the crushed fruits; it is used in medicine as a carminative and stimulant and also as a perfume for soap.