Ammi visnaga

Taxobox
name = "Ammi visnaga"

---

image_width = 210px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Apiales
familia = Apiaceae
genus = "Ammi"
species = "A. visnaga"
binomial = "Ammi visnaga"
binomial_authority = (L.) Lam.
synonyms = "Visnaga daucoides"

"Ammi visnaga" is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by many common names, including bisnaga, toothpickweed, and khella. It is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, but it can be found throughout the world as an introduced species. This is an annual or biennial herb growing from a taproot erect to a maximum height near 80 centimeters. Leaves are up to 20 centimeters long and generally oval to triangular in shape but dissected into many small linear to lance-shaped segments. The inflorescence is a compound umbel of white flowers similar to those of other Apiaceae species. The fruit is a compressed oval-shaped body less than 3 millimeters long. This and other "Ammi" species are sources of khellin, a diuretic extract used in Ancient Egypt as an herbal remedy for renal colic.

External links

* [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?329,330,332 Jepson Manual Treatment]
* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=AMVI2 USDA Plants Profile]
* [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?2900 GRIN Species Profile]
* [http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Ammi+visnaga Photo gallery]

Further reading

*Khan, Z. A., et al. (2001) Inhibition of oxalate nephrolithiasis with "Ammi visnaga" (AI-Khillah). "International Urology and Nephrology" 33:4 605-8.