Apiaceae FAMILY

Ammi majus

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

4/5

Safety & 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 Description

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. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

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

HabitatWaste 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. ].