RE: Herb Of The Week - Black Cumin - Names

February 18, 2005

> OK now I'm confused... I see kalonji... experienced Indian cook person

here

> says " oh, onion seeds!! Love kalonji... and it has THESE

applications? "

Hi Michelle,

Nigella sativa is a PERFECT example of why botanical names are SOOOO

very important when dealing with plants (and the aromatics derived from

plants - like essential oils).

Onion seeds is another name used for Nigella sativa - some other names

are - kalonji, black cumin, black seed, love in a mist .. in fact, here

is a snippet about that from an article on plants ....

" Culinarily, Nigella sativa is known by a number of other names: black

cumin, fennel flower, black caraway, nutmeg flower, wild onion seed,

Roman coriander, kalonji, and charnushka among them. (The only source

that used " charnushka " said " black cumin " is a misnomer, as that name

really belongs to an entirely different spice. " Black cumin " is the

translation from the Indian name for the spice. Of course, wild onion

seed is also a misnomer as are, for that matter, most of the other

common names it is known by.) "

Here is a link to a message board discussion about onion seeds a.k.a.

Nigella a.k.a. kolonji

REAL onion seeds come from several varieties of plants called alliums

which are part of the Liliaceae (lily) family.

Nigella sativa belongs to the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family.

And for the record, true cumin (Cuminum cyminum) is part of the

Umbelliferae (parsley) family.

> And now, come Friday, I'm all over herb of the week!! LOL! Can

someone

> comment? Do we ever grant a time extension for herb of the week? ;-)

> - Michelle in Cleve

Well, each herb of the week usually goes from Monday through Sunday, so

we have another few days left of this herb .. and of course anyone can

comment on an herb any time

Happy Friday everyone. I have to get back to vanilla mountain *lol*

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

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