阿米芹 a mi qin

Daucus visnaga Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 242. 1753.

Plants biennial, ca. 1 m. Basal leaves petiolate, petioles ca. 10 cm; blade pinnate; ultimate segments slender, linear, 20–30 × 0.5–1 mm, entire, divergent, apex setaceous. Upper leaves 2–3-pinnate. Umbels 6–10 cm across; peduncles elongate, 6–20 cm; bracts many, 1–2-pinnate, equaling or longer than rays; rays 60–100(–150), slender, 2–5 cm, unequal, spreading when young, in fruit becoming thick, rigid, erect and constricted on discoid torus (thickened base of rays); bracteoles numerous, subulate, 3–10 mm, entire, equaling flowers; umbellules many-flowered; pedicels 1.5–10 mm, base thickening in fruit into a discoid torus similar to rays. Calyx teeth inconspicuous, minute, ca. 0.2 mm. Petals white. Fruit 2–2.5 × 1–1.5 mm. Carpophore entire. Fl. Jun–Jul, fr. Jul–Aug.

Cultivated in some specialist gardens and medicinal farms, adventive in alkaline grasslands and on dry mountain slopes; below 500 m. Provincial distribution unknown [native to the Mediterranean region].

This species has reputed medicinal value.