caraway plant

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• caraway
• wild caraway
• carum
• Persian cumin
• meridian fennel

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ligusticum carvi
• Karos carvi
• Pimpinella carvi
• Sium carvi
• Selinum carvi
• Apium carvi
• Carum carvi f. gracile
• Carum carvi subsp. rosellum
• Foeniculum carvi
• Carum carvi var. vulgare
• Carum gracile
• Carum officinale
• Carum velenovskyi
• Seseli carum
• Sium carum
• Bunium carvi
• Carum carvi f. pygmaeum
• Falcaria carvifolia
• Carum aromaticum
• Carum carvi f. rhodochranthum
• Seseli carvi
• Carum carvi f. rubriflorum
• Carvi careum
• Carum rosellum
• Carum carvi var. intermedium
• Carum carvi var. pterochlaenum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Following its subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered under Apiales and sits within the family Apiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Carum, specifically as the species Carum carvi.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a distinct geographical presence across several regions within Northern Europe. Its distribution can be traced through various territories, including Denmark and Finland. It is also known to occur in the remote reaches of Iceland and the Faroe Islands, known locally as Føroyar. Furthermore, the species is documented to grow within the landscapes of Great Britain. Collectively, these locations highlight the specific northern range inhabited by Carum carvi.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Carum carvi is characterized by its presence in lowland habitats, where it adapts to diverse environmental conditions across a significant altitudinal gradient. It thrives within an elevational range that spans from a minimum of 1,000 m AMSL to a maximum of 4,200 m AMSL, demonstrating a remarkable capacity to inhabit both lower-lying plains and much higher mountainous terrains.

Elevational range max:

4200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1000 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Carum carvi is characterized by a versatile biological strategy, as its lifecycle can be categorized as variable, encompassing annual, biennial, and perennial stages depending on environmental conditions. Structurally, the plant exhibits different life forms throughout its development, primarily manifesting as a therophyte, which allows it to complete its life cycle rapidly, but it can also be classified as a hemicryptophyte, with its perennating buds located at or just below the soil surface. In terms of foliage management, the plant is deciduous, shedding its leaves as it transitions through its various life stages.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Carum carvi is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not exhibit climbing or parasitic behaviors, functioning as an independent organism within its ecosystem. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte. The plant's stature is relatively modest, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 0.8 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.475 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.8 m

Plant height mean:

0.475 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Carum carvi is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the standard Calvin cycle for carbon fixation. The plant is non-carnivorous, relying on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey. Morphologically, its foliage exhibits a mean leaf size of approximately 12.5493 cm², which contributes to a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 255.83 cm²/g, reflecting the structural density and resource allocation strategy of its leaf tissues.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

12.5493 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

255.83 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Carum carvi is characterized by a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is absent in this species. As a monocarpic plant, it completes its life cycle through a single reproductive effort. The flowering period typically commences in May and extends through July, though the timing can be variable. The pollination process is biotic, specifically utilizing an insect syndrome with bees acting as primary pollinators. Fertilization is supported by the presence of self-fertilization capabilities. Following pollination, the plant produces fruits (mericarps) that typically measure a mean length of 0.45 cm (ranging from a minimum of 0.4 cm to a maximum of 0.5 cm) and maintain a consistent width of approximately 0.2 cm. The resulting seeds are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.0655 g, though recorded values range from a minimum of 0.002248 g to a maximum of 0.00301 g. Dispersal of the seeds is achieved via an anemochorous syndrome, relying on the wind to spread the progeny.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

0.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.45 cm

Fruit length min:

0.4 cm

Fruit width max:

0.2 cm

Monocarpy :

monocarp

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00301 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0654925556666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.002248 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Carum carvi has 3 reported plant parts identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, seed, leaf.

Fruit

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Fitoterapia
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Seed

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Journal of plant research
3. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Leaf

1. Journal of plant research

Chemicals

Carum carvi has 205 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CARVONE, LIMONENE, CARVACROL, Flavonoids, Bavachin.

CARVONE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. International journal of radiation biology
4. Journal of the science of food and agriculture
5. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

LIMONENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of radiation biology
3. Journal of the science of food and agriculture
4. Chemistry & biodiversity

CARVACROL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
3. BMC plant biology

Flavonoids

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. International journal of radiation biology
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Bavachin

1. Journal of separation science
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Bavachromene

1. Journal of separation science
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Caraway oil

1. Natural products and bioprospecting
2. Neurogastroenterology and motility

D-Limonene

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. International journal of environmental health research

ISOPSORALEN

1. Journal of separation science
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Isobavachalcone

1. Journal of separation science
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Activities

Carum carvi has 684 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antibacterial, Carminative, Anticancer.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ovarian research
3. International journal of radiation biology
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Natural products and bioprospecting

Antimicrobial

1. International journal of radiation biology
2. Natural products and bioprospecting
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Veterinary world

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of radiation biology
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Carminative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural products and bioprospecting
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Antiproliferative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of radiation biology

Expectorant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hypoglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Drug research

Conditions

Carum carvi has 29 reported investigations on conditions identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Helicobacter pylori, obesity, vitiligo, weight loss, Aspergillus flavus.

Helicobacter pylori

1. World journal of gastroenterology
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Obesity

1. Drug research
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Vitiligo

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Journal of separation science

Weight loss

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Current medical imaging

Aspergillus flavus

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Aspergillus ochraceus

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Breast cancer

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Aberrant crypt foci

1. Toxicology and applied pharmacology

Antispasmodic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Asthma

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Preparations

Carum carvi has 15 reported preparations identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include essential oils, Digas colic drops (DCD-684), Essential oils, Water extracts, aqueous seeds extract.

Essential oils

1. Journal of food protection
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. International journal of environmental health research

Digas colic drops (dcd-684)

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Essential oils

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Water extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous seeds extract

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Caraway hexane extract (che)

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Caraway water extract (cwe)

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Cell suspension cultures

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Distillate

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Ethanol extracts from fruits

1. Fitoterapia