Black-caraway

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pimpinella cyminosma
• Bunium persicum
• Carum heterophyllum
• Carum persicum
• Sium cyminosma

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Apiales, it falls under the family Apiaceae. Its specific scientific classification is defined by the genus Elwendia, specifically as Elwendia persica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated primarily within the regions of Central and Western Asia. In Central Asia, its presence is documented across several countries, including Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. It is also found within the borders of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Furthermore, the range of this species extends into Western Asia, specifically within Afghanistan. Together, these locations define the natural habitat where the plant can be located.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Elwendia persica is defined by its specialized adaptation to montane environments, where it thrives across a broad altitudinal gradient. This species is primarily found inhabiting mountainous regions, occupying diverse ecological niches within these high-relief landscapes. Its vertical distribution is extensive, ranging from lower elevations of 500 m AMSL to significant heights reaching a maximum of 3100 m AMSL. This wide elevational range suggests a high degree of environmental plasticity, allowing the plant to persist in various microclimates and varying levels of atmospheric pressure and temperature characteristic of mountainous terrain.

Elevational range max:

3100 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Habitat :

mountains

Life history

The life history of Elwendia persica is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a plant adapted to specific environmental niches, it functions as a geophyte, utilizing underground storage organs to survive unfavorable conditions, and is further classified under the life form of a cryptophyte, where its regenerative buds remain protected below the soil surface during dormancy.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Elwendia persica is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. This terrestrial plant is self-supporting rather than acting as a liana or vine, and it functions as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. In terms of its physical stature, the plant maintains a relatively low profile with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.4 m to a maximum of 0.6 m, resulting in a mean plant height of 0.6 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.6 m

Plant height min:

0.4 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Elwendia persica is characterized by a specialized metabolic framework optimized for survival in specific ecological niches, though it lacks the symbiotic mechanisms required for biological nitrogen fixation. Unlike many legumes that host diazotrophic bacteria within root nodules to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer; therefore, its nitrogen assimilation processes are entirely dependent on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium ions from the soil substrate. Its metabolic pathways focus on efficient nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration, utilizing photosynthetic processes to drive cellular respiration and the synthesis of secondary metabolites. The plant's physiological regulation involves complex hormonal signaling to manage water retention and osmotic pressure, ensuring systemic stability through active transport mechanisms across cell membranes.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Elwendia persica is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering cycle and biotic pollination mechanisms. The flowering period typically begins in June and concludes in July. During this stage, the plant utilizes biotic pollination syndromes, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Regarding its reproductive success, the species is capable of self-fertilization, ensuring seed production even in the absence of diverse pollinators. The resulting seeds are notably small and uniform in size, with a mean, maximum, and minimum seed mass consistently recorded at 0.0014 g.

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass mean:

0.0014 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Elwendia persica has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Scientific reports

Chemicals

Elwendia persica has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include cuminaldehyde, BA, Caryophyllene, Cuminyl acetate, Flavonoids.

cuminaldehyde

1. 3 Biotech
2. Scientific reports

BA

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Caryophyllene

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Cuminyl acetate

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Flavonoids

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

GA3

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

GAMMA-TERPINENE

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

JA

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Monoterpenes

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

NAA

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Elwendia persica has 3 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Anticonvulsant, Antithrombotic.

Analgesic

1. European journal of pharmacology

Anticonvulsant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antithrombotic

1. Journal of thrombosis and thrombolysis

Preparations

Elwendia persica has 6 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include essential oil, crude methanolic extracts, essential oils, oil, plant essential oils.

Essential oil

1. Veterinary research forum : an international quarterly journal
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Crude methanolic extracts

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Essential oils

1. Scientific reports

Oil

1. Farmakologiia i toksikologiia

Plant essential oils

1. Archives of microbiology

Plant extracts

1. Archives of microbiology