About Visnaga daucoides Gaertn.
Scientific name: Visnaga daucoides Gaertn. This is an erect annual taprooted plant that reaches a maximum height of about 80 centimeters (31 inches). Its leaves grow up to 20 centimeters (7.9 inches) long, are generally oval to triangular in overall shape, and are dissected into many small linear to lance-shaped segments. The plant's inflorescence is a compound umbel of white flowers, similar to inflorescences produced by other species in the Apiaceae family. Its fruit is a compressed oval-shaped structure less than 3 millimeters long. This species is a source of khellin, a diuretic extract. Like its close relative Ammi majus, Visnaga daucoides is commonly found in gardens, where it is grown from seed each year. Some botanical authorities classify Visnaga daucoides as a synonym of Ammi visnaga, and the species is still widely referenced under that older name. In traditional Egyptian medicine, a tea made from the fruit of this species has been used as a herbal remedy for kidney stones. Preparations made from the fruits have also been used for therapy for angina pectoris.
