Elwendia persica
Species of flowering plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Elwendia persica is a plant species in the family Apiaceae.[1][2] It is related to cumin (Cuminum cyminum) and sometimes called black cumin,[3] or black caraway,[4] and has a smoky, earthy taste. It is often confused with Nigella sativa (which is also called black cumin, black caraway, or black seed[5][6]), by which it is often substituted in cooking.
| Elwendia persica | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A field of cultivated plants of Elwendia persica | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Apiaceae |
| Genus: | Elwendia |
| Species: | E. persica |
| Binomial name | |
| Elwendia persica (Boiss.) Pimenov & Kljuykov | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Dried E. persica fruits are used as a culinary spice in northern India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Iran. It is practically unknown outside these areas.[citation needed]
Etymology
Local names for that spice are kala zeera (काला ज़ीरा; literally "black cumin") or shahi zeera (शाहि ज़ीरा; "imperial cumin") in Hindi, shahi jeera (শাহী জিরা, "imperial cumin") in Bengali, syah zirah (سیاہ زیرہ; "black cumin"), kaala zirah (کالا زیرہ; "black cumin"), and zirah kuhi (زيره كوهی; "mountain/wild cumin") in Urdu, zireh kuhi (زيره كوهی; "wild cumin") in Persian, and siyoh dona (сиёх дона; "black seed") in Tajiki, and in Malayalam sahajīrakaṁ (സഹജീരകം; literally "with cumin" or "co-cumin").[citation needed]
The commonly used Hindi term shahi zeera (शाहि ज़ीरा; literally "imperial cumin") may actually be a distortion of syahi ("black" in Persian) zeera. However, in the Hindustani language, the term syahi (स्याही) also means "inky black".[7]
In Bengali, although kalo jeera (কালোজিরা) literally means 'black cumin', it actually refers not to E. persica, but instead to nigella seed,[8] which is widely used as a spice in Bengali cuisine.
Uses
The plant bears slender, elongated, ribbed fruits which are harvested once the plant has become very dry. Not more than 5 to 8 g can be plucked from each plant, contributing to their high price.[citation needed]
The seeds are most valued as a garnish to high value, very special Indian dishes; they should not be ground, as their flavour would be reduced.[citation needed]
Gallery
A pinch of the slender fruits juxtaposed with a one cent coin for scale
Close-up of slender seed-like fruits (mericarps)
