It is an annual, with erect stems, 1 to 3 feet high, slender and branched. The lowest leaves are stalked and pinnate, the leaflets roundish or oval, slightly lobed. The segments of the uppermost leaves are linear and more divided. The flowers are in shortly-stalked umbels, five to ten rays, pale mauve, almost white, delicately pretty. The seed clusters are very symmetrical and the seeds fall as soon as ripe. The plant is bright green, shining, glabrous and intensely foetid. The seeds are quite round like tiny balls. They lose their disagreeable scent on drying and become fragrant- the longer they are kept, the more fragrant they become.

The seed is aromatic, carminative, expectorant, narcotic, stimulant and stomachic. antibilious; increases the secretion of gastric juices, reduces fever, carminative and stimulant (fruit); diuretic and aphrodisiac (fruit and dried seed); fungitoxic against Helminthosporium oryzae (50% EtOH plant extract).

Floridata
Plants for a Future
Herb Information

Coriandrol, D-linalool (a major compound), camphene, alpha and beta-pinene, myrcene, sabinene and geraniol (essential plant oil).

Intenstinal problems (such as indigestion and vomitting) (seed infusion); rheumatism, neuralgia, hemorrhoids (when bleeding). headache and eye infections. It settles spasms in the gut and counters the effects of nervous tension. Externally the seeds have been used as a lotion or have been bruised and used as a poultice to treat rheumatic pains.

Not to be used in extreme vayu nerve tissue deficiency. The herb possesses a weak potential for sensitization.

Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.