Botanical nomenclature: fall from grace!

I hope it’s still acceptable to post my doubts here at “The Truth In Medicine”. I was banned just for placing the same question (and quotes) at other Curezone forum. According to the private pm from the forum owner: “Sometimes asking too many questions will only confuse those who are avid believers. For that reason I have chosen to ban you from my forum until I see things change. You may contact me after 2 months and request reinstatement if you at that point want to support the forum fully and not be argumentative.”

Again, I hope this is not considered disrespectful or argumentative. If so, it will be my pleasure to leave.

Black cumin is not nigella sativa?!

From Wikipedia:
“Original black cumin (Carum bulbocastanum) is rarely available, so N. sativa is widely used instead; (in India, Carum carvi is the substitute). Cumins are from Apiaceae or Umbelliferae (both names are allowed by the ICBN) family, but N. sativa is from Ranunculaceae family. Black cumin (not N. sativa) seeds come as paired or separate carpels, and are 3-4mm long.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigella_sativa


I am well aware that Wikipedia is not the best place to look for accurate information.

So, I went looking elsewhere for the alleged original black cumin (aka Carum bulbocastanum).

For my surprise, this source says the opposite: Carum bulbocastanu is not Black cumin: “Black Cumin: “There is considerable confusion about this spice, particularly in the older literature. It is sometimes (falsely) referred to under names as Carum bulbocastanum or Cuminum nigrum. Until recently, there was only very little scientific data on this spice.”

But then, it gets more confusing as the same source says that black cumin is not nigella sativa;

Nigella Sativa: “There is a lot of confusion about the names of this spice: It is referred by a multitude of names which, in other sources, might mean something else entirely. In some English sources, it is called black cumin, but I think this is a poor choice, as the name black cumin is already reserved for another, somewhat obscure, spice from Central Asia and Northern India.”

http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Buni_per.html

http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Nige_sat.html


Anyway, my search proceeds… An inquisitive mind needs to know. Sorry if some insecure people feels threatened about that. Tweet