Caraway (Carum carvi, Sp. pl. 1:263. 1753)

Family: Apiaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. pl. 1:263. 1753

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Carum

Vegetable: False

Observations: Temp. Eurasia

Description

Caraway, scientifically designated as Carum carvi, is a biennial plant belonging to the Apiaceae family. Known for its aromatic seeds and feathery leaves, caraway has a long history of culinary and medicinal use. Native to temperate regions of Eurasia, this versatile herb thrives in well-drained soil and full sunlight.

The plant typically reaches a height of 30 to 70 cm and blooms in the second year with small white or pink flowers arranged in umbels. Caraway seeds, dark brown and crescent-shaped, carry a pungent, warm aroma with a hint of pepperiness. These seeds are highly valued for their distinctive flavor, commonly used in breads, particularly rye, as well as in sausages, cheeses, and liqueurs.

Caraway’s therapeutic properties have been recognized since ancient times. It has been employed to treat digestive issues, such as bloating, gas, and indigestion. The essential oil extracted from caraway seeds contains compounds like carvone and limonene, which contribute to its effectiveness in soothing gastrointestinal discomfort.

In addition to its culinary and medicinal applications, caraway holds cultural significance in various traditions. It appears in numerous regional dishes across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, symbolizing its widespread acceptance and adaptability.

Historically, caraway was first classified and described in 1753 in Sp. pl. 1:263 by the botanist Carl Linnaeus, denoted by the author abbreviation “L.” This well-documented classification has cemented caraway’s place in botanical literature and agricultural practices.

Whether in a spice rack or a herbal remedy, caraway continues to be a cherished plant, celebrated for its multifaceted benefits and enduring legacy.

Common Names

Fin: ahdekeltano, isohirvenjuuri, linnunkaali, piikkisalaatti, vanukehirvenjuuri, kumina
Nor: alantrot, haremat, høj høgeurt, lodne-alant, sandstråblom, sverdalant, taggsalat, karve, karve-kaal
Swe: blåfibbla, harkål, hedblomster, luddkrissla, svärdkrissla, taggsallat, kumina, kummin, ålandsrot
Eng: caraway, carum, wild caraway, common caraway
Dan: gul evighedsblomst, haremad, kommen, læge-alant, soløje-alant, tornet salat
Deu: kümmel, wiesen-kümmel, wiesenkümmel
Por: alcarávia, cominho, cominho-armênio, cuminho, cáriz, cúmel
Fra: anis des vosges, carvi, cumin des prés, carvi commun, anis, anis canadien
Ita: carvi
Spa: comino de prado
Nob: karve
Nno: karve
Nld: karwij
Sme: gárven
Cym: carddwy, cardwy, carwas, carwy
En: Caraway, Carum, Chümmi, Jeura keusani, Jhinten, Հայկական Չաման, Wild caraway, Common caraway, Annual Caraway, Carroway, Carvies, Wild cumin
Af: Karwy
Sq: Qimnoni
Ar: كروياء, Karawiya, Karaway, Karawiaa, كراويا, كراوية, كراويه, كرويا, كَرَوْيَا, كَرَوْيَاء
Hy: Քիմոն սովորական
Az: Adi zirə
Eu: Txarpoil
Be: Кмен звычайны
Bn: কারোয়া
Bs: Kim
Bg: Ким
My: ကရဝေး
Ca: Alcaravia, Carvit, Comí de prat
Zh: Fang feng, Ge lu zi, 葛縷子
Hr: Kim
Cs: Kmín kořenný
Da: Almindelig Kommen, Kommen, Gul Evighedsblomst, Haremad, Læge-Alant, Soløje-Alant, Tornet Salat
Dv: ފަރިހި ދަމުއި
Nl: Echte karwij, Karwij
Eo: Karvio
Et: Harilik köömen
Fi: Maustekumina, Ahdekeltano, Isohirvenjuuri, Linnunkaali, Piikkisalaatti, Vanukehirvenjuuri, Kumina
Fr: Carvi, Cumin des prés, Anis des Vosges, “anis canadien, Carvi commun, Anis, Anis bâtard, Aneine, Anis sauvage, Carvic cumin, Care carvi”, Anis canadien, Care carvi, Cumin de Hollande, Carum carvi, Grains de carvi
Gl: Carvea
Ka: Ძირა
De: Kümmel, Wiesen-Kümmel, Wiesenkümmel
El: Κιουμέλ
He: כרוויה תרבותית
Hi: शाहजीरा
Hu: Fűszerkömény
Is: Kúmen
Id: Jintan
Ga: Cearbhas
It: Carvi, Cumino tedesco, Kümmel, Kummel, Caro
Jv: Caraway
Ko: 캐러웨이
Ku: Jaj
La: Careum
Lv: Pļavas ķimene
Lt: Paprastasis kmynas
Lb: Kimmel
Mk: Ким
Ms: Jintan
Ml: കരിഞ്ചീരകം
Mr: शहाजिरे
Se: Gárven, Gárvenat
No: Karve, Kummin, Alantrot, Haremat, Høj Høgeurt, Lodne-alant, Sandstråblom, Sverdalant, Taggsalat, Karve-kaal
Nb: Karve
Nn: Karve
Ps: زيره
Fa: زیره
Pl: Kminek zwyczajny
Pt: Alcarávia, Alcaravia, Alcarovia, Alchirivia, Alquirivia (1), Cherivia, Cominhos-dos-prados, Cominho, Cominho-armênio, Cuminho, Cáriz, Cúmel
Pt-br: Alcaravia
Ro: Chimen
Ru: Тмин обыкновенный
Sr: Ким
Sk: Rasca lúčna
Es: Comino de prado, Kumina, Alcaravea, Carvi
Sv: Kummin, Brödkummin, Blåfibbla, Harkål, Hedblomster, Luddkrissla, Svärdkrissla, Taggsallat, Kumina, Ålandsrot
Tg: Карвиё
Tt: Ак әнис
Te: కరం కరవే
Th: เทียนตากบ
Bo: གོ་སྙོད།
Tr: Hakiki Kimyon
Uk: Кмин звичайний
Cy: Carwy, Carddwy, Cardwy, Carwas

Synonyms

• Bunium carvi ((L.) M.Bieb.)
• Falcaria carvifolia (C.A.Mey.)
• Pimpinella carvi ((L.) Jess.)
• Carum carvi f. rubriflorum (H.Wolff)
• Carum carvi f. gracile ((Lindl.) H.Wolff)
• Carum carvi var. intermedium (Rouy & E.G.Camus)
• Carum carvi var. pterochlaenum (Alef.)
• Apium carvi ((L.) Crantz)
• Carum officinale (Gray)
• Carvi careum (Bubani)
• Karos carvi ((L.) Nieuwl. & Lunell)
• Carum decussatum (Gilib.)
• Ligusticum carvi ((L.) Roth)
• Foeniculum carvi ((L.) Link)
• Carum carvi f. rhodochranthum (A.H.Moore)
• Lagoecia cuminoides (Soy.-Will.)
• Carum carvi subsp. rosellum ((Woronow) Vorosch.)
• Aegopodium carum (Wibel)
• Carum gracile (Lindl.)
• Sium carum (F.H.Wigg.)
• Carum rosellum (Woronow)
• Seseli carum (Scop.)
• Carum velenovskyi (Rohlena)
• Selinum carvi ((L.) E.H.L.Krause)
• Sium carvi ((L.) Bernh.)
• Seseli carvi ((L.) DC.)
• Carum carvi var. vulgare (Alef.)
• Carum aromaticum (Salisb.)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Albania (native)
• Altay (native)
• Amur (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Bangladesh (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Buryatiya (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• Chita (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Hungary (native)
• India (native)
• Inner Mongolia (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Irkutsk (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kamchatka (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Khabarovsk (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Krym (native)
• Kuril Is. (native)
• Manchuria (native)
• Mongolia (native)
• Nepal (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Poland (native)
• Primorye (native)
• Qinghai (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sakhalin (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Tibet (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Tuva (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yakutskiya (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alberta (introduced)
• Algeria (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Cyprus (introduced)
• District of Columbia (introduced)
• Føroyar (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Greenland (introduced)
• Iceland (introduced)
• Idaho (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Iowa (introduced)
• Ireland (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Labrador (introduced)
• Libya (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Manitoba (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• Montana (introduced)
• Morocco (introduced)
• New Brunswick (introduced)
• New Hampshire (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New Mexico (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• Newfoundland (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• North Dakota (introduced)
• Nova Scotia (introduced)
• Nunavut (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Prince Edward I. (introduced)
• Québec (introduced)
• Rhode I. (introduced)
• Saskatchewan (introduced)
• South Dakota (introduced)
• South Georgia (introduced)
• Tunisia (introduced)
• Utah (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• West Virginia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Wyoming (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken May 17, 2022 by Jacky N. (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 6, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 31, 2021 by Didier BENARD (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 10, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 10, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jun 16, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 16, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 6, 2022 by Marco Trentani (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 6, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 10, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jul 9, 2022 by Thomas Lemelin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 7, 2018 by billy 63 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 16, 2020 by jeff barre (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 10, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 31, 2020 by Alexis muller (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Aug 6, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 6, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 16, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 12, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Alain BIGOU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 16, 2020 by jeff barre (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jun 18, 2019 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 5, 2022 by Pour Demos (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 6, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 6, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 1, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jun 16, 2021 by Pekka Salokangas (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 15, 2008 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jun 7, 2008 by Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh – Anonymous (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

Taken Jul 24, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Louis CHEYPE (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:839677-1)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3034714)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Carum carvi L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 6.5

Ph minimum: 5.5

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 7

Soil nutriments: 6