Black caraway, Earth Chestnut, Great earth-nut, Tuberous rooted caraway
Bunium bulbocastanum
Family: Apiaceae
What it is like
A herb. It grows 20-30 cm tall. It keeps growing from year to year. The roots are round and like tubers. They are starchy.
There are 45-50 Bunium species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zone 5.
Countries/locations it is found in
Afghanistan, Africa, Algeria, Asia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Europe, France, Germany, India, Italy, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Morocco, Netherlands, North Africa, North America, Portugal, Scandinavia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, USA, Yugoslavia
How it is used for food
The seeds are used as flavouring for bread. The roots are used as famine food, raw or roasted. They are used raw in salads or boiled as a vegetable. The leaves are used like parsley. The starchy tubers are eaten as a vegetable and in salads. The fruit/seeds are used as a spice.
It is a famine food.
Edible parts
Root, seeds - spice, tubers, leaves
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed.
Its other names
Local names
Black caraway, Black zira, Bulvuska hliznata, Gravioun, Gunyun, Kala-zirah, Pignut, Pilappu shiragam, Shah-zirah, Shemai-shiragam, Shima-kirakam, Shimejeerige, Sima-jilakara, Wild caraway
Synonyms
Apium bulbocastanum Caruel; Bulbocastaneum balearicum Sennen; Bulbocastanum linnaei Schur; Bulbocastanum mauritanicum Willk.; Bulbocastanum mediterraneaum Albert; Bunium agrarium Albert; Bunium aphyllum Jan ex DC.; Bunium bulbosum Dulac; Bynium collinum Albert; Bunium crassifolium (Batt.) Batt.; Bunium elatum (Batt.) Batt.; Bunium majus Vill.; Bunium muaritanicum (Boiss. & Reut.) Batt.; Bunium mediterraneum Albert; Bunium minus Gouan; Carum bulbocastanum (L.) W. D. J. Koch; Carum mauritanicum Boiss. & Reut.; Carvi bulbocastanum (L.) Bubani; Conopodium balearicum (Sennen) M. Hiroe; Ligusticum bulbocastanum Crantz.; Pimpinella bulbocastanum Jess.; Pimpinella bulbocastanum (L.) Stokes; Scandix bulbocastanum Moench; Selinum bulbocastanum E. H. L. Krause; Sium bulbocastanum Spreng.;