Ammios Moench, nom. rej.

Herbs, perennial or annual. Taproot narrow. Stem erect, terete, much-branched, usually puberulous, rarely glabrous. Basal leaves 2–3-pinnate-ternate/pinnatisect; ultimate segments ovate, narrowly lanceolate to filiform, sessile or short-petiolulate, base usually broad-cuneate or truncate, margin sparingly irregularly serrate, dentate or entire, glabrous on both surfaces. Umbels compound, loose, terminal and lateral; peduncles slender; bracts and bracteoles absent, rarely present, linear; rays few, slender. Calyx teeth obsolete. Petals white, obovate, apex narrow, inflexed, abaxially sparsely scaberulous. Stylopodium conic; styles short, divaricate. Fruit ovoid-globose or broadly ellipsoid, base rounded or cordate, slightly flattened laterally, nearly round in cross section, white strigose or papillose; ribs 5, filiform, prominent to scarcely so; vittae (1–)2–3 in each furrow, 2–6 on commissure. Seed face plane. Carpophore 2-cleft to base.

This rather heterogeneous genus has uncertain generic boundaries with Pimpinella.

About 12 species: Africa to Asia; four species (two endemic, two introduced) in China.

(Authors: She Menglan (佘孟兰 Sheh Meng-lan); Mark F. Watson)