Ammi majus Seeds | Laceflower
LATIN NAME: Ammi majus
COMMON NAME: Laceflower
Plant Profile
Laceflower (Ammi majus) is an elegant annual of the carrot family (Apiaceae), native to the Mediterranean region and western Asia. It grows 60-120 cm tall, with finely divided, ferny foliage and large, flat-topped, lacy white umbels through summer. The airy flower heads are prized by florists as a filler and by gardeners for the lightness they bring to borders, and they are much visited by beneficial insects.
Science & Biotechnology
The species features in the wider study of Apiaceae, and its traits make it a useful subject for work on germination biology, cultivation and ornamental selection. Ammi majus is particularly notable in phytochemical research because of naturally occurring furanocoumarins. For practical purposes the message is encouraging: generations of cultivation have produced plants of predictable, well-mannered garden character.
Uses & Benefits
Laceflower works well in borders, containers and dedicated beds. Laceflower is valued as a cut flower, ornamental annual and component of naturalistic planting schemes. Its airy flower heads combine well with other annuals and are also used in floral design. Botanical collections may use it to demonstrate Apiaceae inflorescence structure. In later seasons it demands little more than an appreciative eye.
Ammi species occupy a special place in pharmaceutical history: Ammi majus supplied the furanocoumarins behind psoralen photochemotherapy, and Ammi visnaga yielded khellin, the model for the asthma drug cromolyn. The plants themselves are for the garden, not the home pharmacy.
Growing from Seed
Laceflower grows readily from seed. Sow seed on surface of a fine seed medium and press it gently into place. Keep medium evenly moist and provide bright light. Broadcast the seed thinly over a fine, free-draining compost, sieve a little more compost on top, and water with a fine rose. Pot the young plants on as they grow, harden them off gradually, and plant them into their final positions when sturdy.
Our Take
Laceflower settles in quickly once it finds its footing. Laceflower is the kind of plant that rewards a permanent spot. Sun, free drainage and a patient first year are all it really requires.
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