Ammi Majus is the best white filler-foliage plant you can grow and spectacular arranged in a great cloud on its own. It forms larger, more prolific plants from an autumn sowing.
Name: Ammi majus
Common name: Bishop's Flower, Bishop's weed
Type: Hardy Annual
Site: Full sun, well drained soil
Height: 3ft
Spread: 20in
For seed: Sow undercover February-March in a seed tray, module or guttering. Direct sow March-May and/or August-September.
Care tips: It needs plenty of water. For best results sow plants direct in autumn. It overwinters well for flowers by late spring. May need staking.
Flowers: ❀ June - August, 12 weeks from spring sowing, this is a cut-and-come-again variety
Ammi majus, commonly known as bishop's flower,bishop's weed, false bishop's weed, bullwort, greater ammi, lady's lace, False Queen Anne's lace or laceflower, originates in the Nile River Valley and has white lace-like flower clusters. Ammi majus fruits can be distinguished by the presence of four prominent secondary ridges and by the absence of lacunae outside the vascular bundles, as seen in the transverse section of fruit.
It contains large amounts of furanocoumarin, xanthotoxin, and bergapten.[citation needed] The furanocoumarin in the plant can cause phytophotodermatitis and hyperpigmentation.
Ammi majus is used in the treatment of vitiligo and psoriasis.
In ancient Egypt, this plant was used to treat skin diseases.
Ammi majus is being studied for potential cancer and AIDS treatments.
The seed is contraceptive, diuretic and tonic. An infusion is used to calm the digestive system, whilst it is also used in the treatment of asthma and angina.
A decoction of the ground-up seed, eaten after intercourse, appears able to prevent implantation of the fertilized ovum in the uterus. This decoction is also used as a gargle in the treatment of toothache.
The seed contains furanocoumarins including bergapten, which stimulate pigment production in skin that is exposed to bright sunlight. The plant is widely cultivated in India for these furanocoumarins which are used in the treatment of vitiligo and psoriasis.
Other Uses
Weather protection.
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.
