Carob pod (Ceratonia siliqua): dark brown; length 11 cm. Part of a collection of carob seeds, pods and wheat grains to illustrate the derivation of the jeweler's carat from carob seeds, Arabic qirat, from Greek keration. The seeds were formerly the standard jeweler's weight in the Near East and Moslem world. The old traditional mithqal gold coin on Moslem countries has a weight of 24 carob seeds. Likewise, gold alloys are rated in 24ths, i.e. 10 carat gold is 10/24 fine gold. The carat was and is divided into 4 carat grains (wheat). The pods are sugary and serve as food for men and livestock.