Cuminum cyminum L. 1753.
D Spidskommen/Romersk Kommen.
F roomankumina, juustokumina.
N kummin.
S spiskummin. –
Lit.: Thellung (1926; ill.). – Annual, to 15–30 cm.
Leaves 1–2-ternate, with linear lobes.
Umbels shortly pedunculate to sessile, with 2–4 umbellules on short rays.
Bracts 2–3, unequal in length, entire or sometimes trifid with linear lobes, membrane-bordered.
Umbellules with 3–5 flowers.
Bractlets 2–4, like the bracts.
Flowers with filiform, up to 2 mm long sepals; petals purplish, bifid.
Fruit c. 6–7 mm, elliptic in outline, usually longer than the pedicels, covered with papillae (sometimes developed as hairs) except for the low ridges and the upper part.
D Sjæ København 1982 (flower-bed, probably from bird-seed).
N Øf Fredrikstad 1979 (docks, probably brought in with soybeans).
S BhG Göteborg (Skräppekärr 1943; Ringön 1951, with fruit from Italy and the Canary Isles). – Cultivated as a spice since ancient times; native occurrence uncertain, possibly S Egypt (Rechinger 1987). –
Map (not in the book).