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Ammi L.

Apiaceae

  Ammi majus: stem  
Alternate trade names

queen anne's lace, green mist

Common names

queen anne's lace, false queen anne's lace

Species cultivated

Most commonly cultivated

Ammi majus L.1

Other species

A. visnaga (L.) Lam.1 (green mist)

Origin

Mediterranean (Ammi majus), southern Europe (A. visnaga).

Brief characterization

Bi- or tri-pinnately compound, serrate leaves with sheathing petioles; small flowers (ca. 3 mm across) in compound umbels; bracts of involucel (subtending secondary umbel) and involucre linear-pinnatisect with filiform lobes or leaflets; sepals very small or absent; corolla of 5 bi-lobed petals.

Cultivar and/or species variation

Ammi majus has 15-60 rays and bears white flowers in loose umbels; its cultivars differ little; A. visnaga has up to ca. 150 rays and bears green to white flowers in dense, ordered umbels.

May be confused with

Daucus carota L., whose umbels often have a tiny dark colored flower present in the center.

Countries exporting

Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Ammi majus
© California Cut Flower Commission

Ammi majus: primary umbel, side view showing involucre

Ammi majus: primary umbel, top view

Ammi majus: secondary umbel, top view

Ammi visnaga 'Green Mist'
Photo: © K. Sahin, Zaden B.V.
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