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Ammi majus L.

Overview
General Information
ID Info
Similar Species
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Aperçu
Renseignements Généraux
Informations D'identification
Espèces Semblables
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Family :

Famille :

Apiaceae

Synonym(s) :

Synonyme(s) :

Ammi glaucifolium L. (USDA-ARS 2023)

Ammi majus L. var. glaucifolium (L.)

Mérat (USDA-ARS 2023)

Apium ammi Crantz (POWO 2023; Tropicos 2023)

Common Name(s) :

Nom(s) commun(s) :

Greater ammi (English) (Wiersema & León 2016; CABI 2023; Tropicos 2023; USDA-ARS 2023)

Bishop’s-weed (English) (Wiersema & León 2016; CABI 2023; USDA-ARS 2023) Ammi élevé (French) (Wiersema & León 2016; USDA-ARS 2023)

Da a mi qin大阿米芹 (Chinese) (FOC 1994+)

Bischofskraut (German) (Wiersema & León 2016; USDA-ARS)

Âmio-maior (Portuguese) (Wiersema & León 2016; USDA-ARS 2023)

Ameo bastardo (Spanish) (Wiersema & León 2016; USDA-ARS 2023)

Ammi majus méricarpes, diverses vues

  • Ammi majus méricarpes, diverses vues

  • Ammi majus schizocarpe et méricarpes

  • Ammi majus méricarpe, côté extérieur

  • Ammi majus méricarpes, côté extérieur, vue de côté et côté intérieur

  • Ammi majus méricarpe, côté intérieur

  • Ammi majus schizocarpe

Explore More :

Explore plus :

Overview

Aperçu

Regulation :

Remarques Réglementation:

    Regulation Notes:

    Distribution :

    Répartition :

    Ammi majus is native to countries that border the Mediterranean, such as Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Greece, Italy, and Spain (USDA-ARS 2023). The species is cultivated in Egypt, India, and Pakistan, and is naturalized in Europe, Argentina, Chile and Mexico (Hossain and Al Touby 2020; USDA-ARS 2023). In the United States, the species has been found mostly in the southeastern and west coast states (USDA-NCRS 2023). This species has not been recorded in Canada to date (Brouillet et al. 2010+).

    Habitat and Crop Association :

    Habitat et Cultures Associées :

    Ammi majus can grow in a range of soil types, appears to prefer dry, nutrient-rich soils with a sandy or stony component and semi-arid conditions (Hanf 1983; Abd El–Hamid and Kamel 2010; Naivie and Adkins 2023).

    The species has been reported as a common weed of crops in Egypt, Iraq, Europe, Argentina and Australia, infesting Triticum aestivum L. subsp. aestivum (wheat), Trifolium L. spp. (clover), Medicago sativa L. (alfalfa), Vicia faba L. (broad bean), Beta vulgaris L. subsp. vulgaris (sugar beet), Allium cepa L. (onion), Glycine max L. (soybean) and Gossypium hirsutum L. (cotton) (Hanf 1983; Abd El–Hamid and Kamel 2010; Puricelli et al. 2012; Scursoni et al. 2014; El-Saheed; Navie and Adkins 2023). A. majus has also invaded roadsides, disturbed sites, gardens, vineyards, and native plant communities (Hanf 1983; Navie and Adkins 2023).

    Economic Use, cultivation area, and Weed Association :

    Utilisation économique, zone de culture et association de mauvaises herbes :

    A. majus is a traditional medicine in Egypt and the Gulf Region, used primarily to treat vitiligo, and for other skin disorders, chronic ulcers, urinary tract issues, and promotes menstruation (Hossain and Al Touby 2020; EDA 2022). It is also cultivated as a garden plant and a cut flower for floral arrangements (Esmeralda Farms 2023; Navie and Adkins 2023).  

    Duration of Life Cycle :

    Durée du cycle vital:

    Annual

    Dispersal Unit Type :

    Type d’unité de dispersion :

    Mericarp

    General Information

    RENSEIGNEMENTS GÉNÉRAUX

    Ammi majus fruits are naturally dispersed close to the parent plant, and soil concentrations of 5-15 fruits per cm2 have been measured (Friedman et al. 1982). The seeds may move into new areas from planted gardens, or introduced through contaminated seed (Hanf 1983; Navie and Adkins 2023). The species can invade and establish in native vegetation, and threaten the habitats of rare species (Navie and Adkins 2023). Chemicals from the fruits have been found to inhibit germination of species other than A. majus (Friedman et al. 1982).

    Ammi majus has a long history as a treatment for vitiligo and other skin disorders, utilizing phytochemicals to darken skin when exposed to ultraviolet light (EDA 2022). But they can also cause burns in livestock that have consumed the plant or seeds, and lower red blood cell counts in mice (EDA 2022).

    Chemicals from the fruits have antimicrobial properties for several species of bacteria, including the pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (EDA 2022). Fruit extracts also have insecticidal properties for disease vectors such as the mosquito Culex pipiens molestus Forskal., and can reduce reliance on synthetic insecticides (Mustafa and Al-Khazraji 2008).

    Identification

    Identification

    <
    >

    • Schizocarp

      Forme

      • Schizocarp is oval or oblong shaped

      Texture de la surface

      • Surface has papillate tubercles that can be seen under 20x and higher magnification
      • Schizocarps have 8 thin, longitudinal ridges with generally flat interspaces
      • Each interspace has a thin oil duct in the centre; they are convex and raised above the surface

      Couleur

      • Schizocarp is brown or reddish brown coloured, with yellow ribs and dark reddish or purplish oil ducts
      • Schizocarp surface appears ‘dusty’ or ‘sugary’ due to the whitish tubercles

      Autres caractéristiques

      • The style remnants have expanded bases and form a cap at one end (stylopodium), with two long styles curving back towards the schizocarp

      Ammi majus schizocarpe et méricarpes

    • Mericarp

      Forme

      • Mericarps are long oval or egg-shaped, plano-convex in 3D view

      Texture de la surface

      • Mericarp surface has papillate tubercles that can be seen under 20x and higher magnification
      • Mericarps have 5 thin, longitudinal ridges with generally flat interspaces
      • Each interspace has a thin oil duct in the centre; they are convex and raised above the surface
      • Mericarp’s flat side has a central groove that can be almost as wide as the mericarp with two oil ducts along the edges, may have a low ridge in the middle

      Couleur

      • Mericarp is brown or reddish brown coloured, with yellow ribs and dark reddish or purplish oil ducts
      • Surface appears ‘dusty’ or ‘sugary’ from dense, whitish tubercles

      Autres caractéristiques

      • The style remnant has an expanded base and forms a cap at one end (stylopodium), with a long style curving back towards the mericarp

      Ammi majus schizocarpe et méricarpes

    <
    >

    • Seed

      Dimensions

      • Seed size similar to mericarp size

      Forme

      • Seed is egg shaped

      Texture de la surface

      • Seed surface is smooth

      Couleur

      • Seed is translucent brownish coloured

      Autres caractéristiques

      • Oil ducts remain on the seed surface and are translucent reddish coloured
      • Fruit coat adheres to the seed and is difficult to remove
    <
    >

    • Embryo

      Dimensions

      • Embryo is rudimentary

      Forme

      • Embryo is linear

      Albumen

      • Endosperm is translucent brown coloured with hard, oily consistency

      Autres caractéristiques

      • Embryo is in an axial position
      • Embryo is found at the style remnant end

    Identification Tips

    CONSEILS POUR L’IDENTIFICATION

    Ammi species fruits can be distinguished from other species in Apiaceae by:

    • Fruits are smaller than many other species (length generally 2 mm)
    • Fruits are plano-convex without wings, hairs or glands
    • Fruits have low profile, thin ridges, and narrow oil ducts that protrude from the space between ridges
    • A whitish, papillate tuberculate layer
    • A wide groove on the flat side of the mericarp with oil ducts along the edge

    Three Ammi species, A. huntii (Wats.) Trel., A. seubertianum (Wats.) Trel. and A. trifoliatum (Wats.) Trel. are found only on the Azores islands, Portugal (Bueno et al. 2006). The fruits of the remaining species, A. visnaga (L.) Lam., are dark purple-brown with wide ridges on the convex side and a ridge in the centre of the flat side of the fruit within a shallow groove. A. majus is brown coloured, with narrow ridges on the convex side and a wide, deep groove on the flat side.

    Ammi majus schizocarpe et méricarpes

    Additional Botany Information

    AUTRES RENSEIGNEMENTS BOTANIQUES

    Fleurs/Inflorescences

    • Inflorescence with 10-35 rays from a central point, each 3-6 cm long and each supporting a flower cluster (Tropicos 2023)
    • Flowers numerous and white coloured (Hanf 1983)

    Caractéristiques Végétatives

    • Plants grow up to 1 m tall, hairless (Tropicos 2023)
    • Leaves are 5-20 cm long, once or twice pinnate, leaf segments narrow oval or teardrop-shaped, basal leaves wider (Tropicos 2023)
    • Leaf segments saw-toothed along the edges (Tropicos 2023)
    • Leaf-like bracts with linear segments surround the base of the main inflorescence and under each flower cluster (Tropicos 2023)

    Similar Species

    ESPÈCES SEMBLABLES

    L’identification des espèces semblables est fondée sur l’étude de la morphologie des graines; les espèces qui possèdent des unités de dispersion semblables sont retenues. L’étude est limitée par la disponibilité des spécimens physiques et des publications au moment de l'examen et peut être teintée par la subjectivité des auteurs, compte tenu de leurs connaissances et de leur expérience. L’information sur les espèces semblables qui est fournie pour faciliter l’identification des graines vise à faire connaître aux utilisateurs les similitudes qui pourraient mener à des erreurs d’identification.

    Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam.

    A. visnaga is an annual or biennial species with a similar distribution as A. majus (Khalil et al. 2020). It is used traditionally as a diuretic, vaso- and bronchodilator (Khalil et al. 2020) and is also cultivated for cut flowers (Esmeralda Farms 2023). The fruits are larger (length 2-2.5 mm, Hanf 1983) than A. majus fruits, and are dark purplish brown with wider ridges on the convex side and a prominent ridge on the flat side of the fruit within a shallow groove. A. majus is brown coloured, with narrow ridges on the convex side and a wide, deep groove on the flat side.

    Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague ex Turrill

    T. ammi is an annual species, the fruits are used primarily as a spice (Ajwain) and to aid digestion (Tropicos 2023). Mericarps are a similar size or slightly larger than A. majus (length: 2 mm, Tropicos 2023), with wider surface ridges, a bubbled surface, no groove on the flat side and style remnants are cone-shaped and visually prominent compared to A. majus.

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    Reference(s)

    Référence(s)

    Abd El–Hamid, H.A. and Kamel, K.A. 2010. Weed communities of field crops at El-Tina Plain, Egypt. Catrina 5: 77-86.

    Al-Khaz’Ali, A.J., Salman, K.A. and Ahmed, A.S. 2023. Evaluation of the Efficiency Of Some Herbicides For Controlling the Weeds Outgrowth in Onion Field (Allium Cepa L.). Syrian Journal of Agricultural Research 10: 362-370.

    Bojňanský, V. and Fargašová, A. 2007. Atlas of Seeds and Fruits of Central and East-European Flora: The Carpathian Mountains Region. Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. 1046 pp.

    Brouillet, L., Coursol, F., Meades, S. J., Favreau, M., Anions, M., Bélisle, P. and Desmet, P. 2010+. VASCAN, the database of vascular plants of Canada. http://data.canadensys.net/vascan/ Accessed November 16, 2023.

    Bueno, E., Juan, A. and Crespo, M. B. 2006. Lectotypification of three endemic taxa of Ammi L. (Apiaceae) from the archipelago of the Azores. Anales del Jardín Botánico de Madrid, 63: 31-33.

    Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA). 2022. Egyptian Herbal Monograph. Egyptian Drug Authority, Egypt. 431 pp. Esmeralda Farms. 2023. Ammi majus. https://www.flower.style/flowers-we-love/ammi-majus. Accessed November 22, 2023.

    Friedman, J., Rushkin, E., Waller, G.R. 1982. Highly potent germination inhibitors in aqueous eluate of fruits of Bishop’s weed (Ammi majus L.) and avoidance of autoinhibition. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 8: 55-65.

    Hanf, M. 1983. The Arable Weeds of Europe with their Seedlings and Seeds. BASF United Kingdom Limited, Suffolk, UK. 494 pp.

    Hossain M.A. and Al Touby, S. 2020. Ammi majus an Endemic Medicinal Plant: A Review of the Medicinal Uses, Pharmacological and Phytochemicals. Annals of Toxicology 2:9-14.

    International Seed Morphology Association (ISMA). 2020. Method for Seed Size Measurement. Version 1.0. ISMA Publication Guide.

    Khalil, N., Bishr, M., Desouky, S. and Salama, O. 2020 Ammi Visnaga L., a Potential Medicinal Plant: A Review. Molecules 25: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25020301, Accessed November 24, 2023.

    Mustafa, M.A. and Al-Khazraji, A. 2008. Effect of some plant extracts on the Culex pipiens molestus Forskal larvae. Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 22: 9-12.

    Navie, S.C. and Adkins, S. 2023. Environmental weeds of Australia : an interactive identification and information resource for over 1000 invasive plants, University of Queensland, CRC for Australian Weed Management. https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/ammi_majus.htm, Accessed November 22, 2023.

    Puricelli, E., Faccini, D., Nisensohn, L., and Tuesca, D. 2012. Weed cover, frequency and diversity in field plots and edges in the soybean central region of Argentina. Agricultural Sciences 3: 631-639.

    Scursoni, J.A., Gigón, R., Martín, A.N., Vigna, M, Leguizamón, A.S., Istilart, C. and López, R. 2014. Changes in Weed Communities of Spring Wheat Crops of Buenos Aires Province of Argentina. Weed Science 62:51–62.

    Tropicos.org. 2023. Flora of Pakistan. Missouri Botanical Garden. http://legacy.tropicos.org/projectwebportal.aspx?pagename=Home&projectid=32, Accessed November 16, 2023.

    U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Services (USDA-ARS). 2023. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysearch Accessed November 16, 2023.

    Author(s)

    AUTEUR(S)

    Jennifer Neudorf and Angela Salzl

    Canadian Food Inspection Agency

    contactus@idseed.org

    Dernière mise à jour on 2021-05-11

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    2025

     ISMA - Association internationale de morphologie des semences