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Useful Temperate Plants

Ammi majus

L.

Apiaceae

+ Synonyms

Aethusa ammi Spreng.

Ammi boeberi Hell. ex Hoffm.

Ammi broussonetii DC.

Ammi cicutifolium Willd. ex Schult.

Ammi elatum Salisb.

Ammi glaucifolium L.

Ammi intermedium DC.

Ammi pauciradiatum Hochst. ex A.Rich.

Ammi procerum Lowe

Ammi pumilum (Brot.) DC.

Anethum pinnatum Ruiz & Pav. ex Urban

Apium ammi Crantz

Apium ammi-maius Crantz

Apium candollei M.Hiroe

Apium petraeum Crantz

Apium pumilum (Brot.) Calest.

Carum majus (L.) Koso-Pol.

Cuminum aethiopicum Royle

Cuminum regium Royle

Daucus glaber Parsa

Daucus parsae M.Hiroe

Helosciadium lateriflorum Koch

Pimpinella capillacea Poit. ex Urb.

Pimpinella lateriflora Link

Selinum ammoides E.H.L.Krause

Sison fasciculatum Pohl ex DC.

Sison haenkei C.Presl ex DC.

Sison lateriflorum Bertol.

Sison majus Eaton & Wright

Sison pumilum Brot.

Visnaga vulgaris Bubani

Common Name: Bishop's Weed

Ammi majus
Flowering plant, growing as a weed in Australia
Photograph by: Fagg M.; Australian National Botanic Gardens
Creative Commons License
Ammi majus Ammi majus Ammi majus Ammi majus

General Information

Ammi majus is an erect, annual plant with a much-branched stem; it can grow 30 - 150cm tall[
1059
Title
A Guide to Medicinal Plants in North Africa
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
IUCN; Malaga, Spain
Year
2005
ISBN
2-8317-0893-1
Description
A guide to over 100 species of medicinal herbs in N. Africa.
,
1064
Title
WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants Vol. 3
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
World Health Organization; Geneva
Year
2007
ISBN
978-92-4-154702-4
Description
Very detailed treatments of 31 medicinal herbs
].
The plant has a long history of herbal use going back to at least 2,000BC in Egypt and it is still in common use in modern herbalism. It is often cultivated for its attractive flowering stems which are sold in local markets, and is cultivated in India and elsewhere as a medicinal herb[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].
The plant is often found as a weed in cultivated crops, where its presence is said to depress yields[
1059
Title
A Guide to Medicinal Plants in North Africa
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
IUCN; Malaga, Spain
Year
2005
ISBN
2-8317-0893-1
Description
A guide to over 100 species of medicinal herbs in N. Africa.
].

Known Hazards

The seed contains various furanocoumarins inclusing xanthotoxin (8-methoxypsoralen) and bergapten (5-methoxypsoralen). Furanocoumarins stimulate the production of pigmentation in skin exposed to ultra-violet light, but it can cause side-effects. Use with caution[
160
Title
Wonder Crops. 1987.
Publication
 
Author
Natural Food Institute,
Publisher
 
Year
 
ISBN
 
Description
Fascinating reading, this is an annual publication. Some reports do seem somewhat exaggerated though.
].
Skin contact with the sap is said to cause photo-sensitivity and/or dermatitis in some people[
218
Title
Medicinal Plants of China
Publication
 
Author
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S.
Publisher
Reference Publications, Inc.
Year
1985
ISBN
0-917256-20-4
Description
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
].

Botanical References

17
Title
Flora of the British Isles.
Publication
 
Author
Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Year
1962
ISBN
-
Description
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.

Range

Europe - France to Spain, east to Ukraine and Greece; N. Africa - Morocco to Ethiopia; W. Asia - Turkey, south to Israel, east to Pakistan.

Habitat

Waste places in Britain[
17
Title
Flora of the British Isles.
Publication
 
Author
Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Year
1962
ISBN
-
Description
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
]. A weed in fields of winter crop cereals like wheat and barley in the Mediterranean[
1059
Title
A Guide to Medicinal Plants in North Africa
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
IUCN; Malaga, Spain
Year
2005
ISBN
2-8317-0893-1
Description
A guide to over 100 species of medicinal herbs in N. Africa.
].

Properties

Weed PotentialYes
Medicinal Rating *  *  *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitAnnual
Height0.75 m
PollinatorsInsects
Self-fertileYes
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details


Prefers a well-drained soil in a sunny position[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
], succeeding in ordinary garden soil.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Ammi majus is a very effective medicinal plant with a long history of herbal use going back to at least 2,000BC in Egypt, where it was used as a treatment for vitiligo - a use that is still employed in modern herbalism[
1059
Title
A Guide to Medicinal Plants in North Africa
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
IUCN; Malaga, Spain
Year
2005
ISBN
2-8317-0893-1
Description
A guide to over 100 species of medicinal herbs in N. Africa.
].

The seed is contraceptive, diuretic, emmenagogue and tonic[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
]. An infusion is used to calm the digestive system, whilst it is also used in the treatment of asthma and angina[
254
Title
The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
Publication
 
Author
Chevallier. A.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley. London
Year
1996
ISBN
9-780751-303148
Description
An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
]. The seed is also used to regulate menstruation, and in the treatment of leprosy, kidney stones and urinary tract infections[
1064
Title
WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants Vol. 3
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
World Health Organization; Geneva
Year
2007
ISBN
978-92-4-154702-4
Description
Very detailed treatments of 31 medicinal herbs
]. A decoction of the ground-up seed, eaten after intercourse, appears able to prevent implantation of the fertilized ovum in the uterus[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].
A decoction of the seed is used as a gargle in the treatment of toothache[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].

The seed contains furanocoumarins (including bergapten and xanthotoxin), which stimulate pigment production in skin that is exposed to bright sunlight[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
,
254
Title
The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
Publication
 
Author
Chevallier. A.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley. London
Year
1996
ISBN
9-780751-303148
Description
An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
]. The plant is widely cultivated in India for these furanocoumarins which are used in the treatment of vitiligo (piebald skin) and psoriasis[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
,
254
Title
The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
Publication
 
Author
Chevallier. A.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley. London
Year
1996
ISBN
9-780751-303148
Description
An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
].
In one clinical trial, the powdered fruits (dose not specified) were administered orally to leukodermic patients, who then exposed the affected patches to direct sunlight for 1 hour. The patients subsequently developed symptoms of itching, redness, oedema, vesiculation and oozing in the leukodermic patches. A few days later the affected skin gradually started to display deep brown pigmentation. Repigmentation usually developed within 1 week, in a punctate or perifollicular fashion, spreading inwards from the margin or diffuse[
1064
Title
WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants Vol. 3
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
World Health Organization; Geneva
Year
2007
ISBN
978-92-4-154702-4
Description
Very detailed treatments of 31 medicinal herbs
].
The extracted furanocoumarin xanthotoxin has been assessed in over 100 clinical studies. When it is used in conjunction with UV-A radiation it is very effective in producing repigmentation of the skin - applied externally in a bath was more effective and had fewer side effects than oral application[
1064
Title
WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants Vol. 3
Publication
 
Author
 
Publisher
World Health Organization; Geneva
Year
2007
ISBN
978-92-4-154702-4
Description
Very detailed treatments of 31 medicinal herbs
].

Other Uses

The root is chewed to give protection from strong sunlight. It contains 8-methoxypsoralen which stimulates production of pigment in skin exposed to U.V. light. Caution is advised, however, since it can cause side-effects[
160
Title
Wonder Crops. 1987.
Publication
 
Author
Natural Food Institute,
Publisher
 
Year
 
ISBN
 
Description
Fascinating reading, this is an annual publication. Some reports do seem somewhat exaggerated though.
]. Other reports suggest that it is the seeds that are used[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
,
254
Title
The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
Publication
 
Author
Chevallier. A.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley. London
Year
1996
ISBN
9-780751-303148
Description
An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Ammi+majus>

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