Ammi majus
| Ammi majus | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 2' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Mid Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Ammi majus (common name: bishop's weed)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ[1].
Cultivation: Prefers a well-drained soil in a sunny position[1], succeeding in ordinary garden soil.
This species is often cultivated for its attractive flowering stems which are often sold in markets[1]. It is cultivated in India as a medicinal herb[1].
Range: C. Europe to W. Asia and N. Africa. A casual in Britain[2].
Habitat: Waste places in Britain[2].
Edibility: Seed - used as a condiment[3][4].
Medicinal: The seed is contraceptive, diuretic and tonic[1]. An infusion is used to calm the digestive system, whilst it is also used in the treatment of asthma and angina[5]. A decoction of the ground-up seed, eaten after intercourse, appears able to prevent implantation of the fertilized ovum in the uterus[1]. This decoction is also used as a gargle in the treatment of toothache[1].
The seed contains furanocoumarins (including bergapten), which stimulate pigment production in skin that is exposed to bright sunlight[1][5]. The plant is widely cultivated in India for these furanocoumarins which are used in the treatment of vitiligo (piebald skin) and psoriasis[1][5].
Usage: 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[6]. Other reports suggest that it is the seeds that are used[1][5].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Seed Ripens: Mid Summer-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The root contains 8-methoxypsoralen, this stimulates the production of pigmentation in skin exposed to ultra-violet light, but it can cause side-effects. Use with caution[6]. Skin contact with the sap is said to cause photo-sensitivity and/or dermatitis
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Natural Food Institute. Wonder Crops 1987.