Ajowan caraway

Trachyspermum ammi

Physical Characteristics

Trachyspermum ammi is a ANNUAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.4 m (1ft 4in). It is frost tender. It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

Europe to eastern Asia in the Himalayas.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Edible Uses: Condiment The pungently aromatic fruits are about 2cm long[238]. They are used as a flavouring in savoury dishes, including curries, pulses, breads and pastry snacks[238].

Medicinal Uses

Antiseptic Antispasmodic Aromatic Bitter Cholera Diaphoretic Digestive Diuretic Expectorant Tonic The seed, and especially the essential oil in the seed, is strongly antiseptic, antispasmodic, aromatic, bitter, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, expectorant and tonic[238]. It is used internally in the treatment of colds, coughs, influenza, asthma, diarrhoea, cholera, colic, indigestion, wind, oedema, arthritis and rheumatism[238, 240]. The seed is harvested when fully ripe and either distilled for the essential oil or dried for later use[238]. The seed contains about 4 - 6% essential oil, of which 45 - 55% is the strongly antiseptic essential oil 'thymol'[240]. The essential oil is also added to cough medicines[238]. The root is carminative and diuretic[240].

Known Hazards

None known