Description: Erect branching annual or perennial herbs with a slender taproot, usually glabrous.
Leaves 1–3-pinnatisect or ternately dissected; petiole sheathing.
Inflorescence terminal and axillary, a compound umbel; bracts numerous, entire or pinnatisect; rays numerous; bracteoles numerous, entire; pedicels spreading. Flowers bisexual, white. Sepals minute or absent. Petals ovate to obcordate, the apex inflexed, 2-lobed. Stylopodium depressed-conical.
Fruit ovoid to ovoid-oblong, laterally compressed, glabrous; carpophore entire or bifid to base; mericarp ribs prominent, filiform, acute.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 10 species, southern Europe, western Asia, tropical Africa, Madeira & the Azores. Australia: 2 species (naturalized), Qld, N.S.W, Vic., S.A., W.A.
Text by J. M. Powell, except for genera with authors listed
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Basal and lower stem leaves with elliptic or obovate segments with toothed margins; umbels usually with 20–40 rays; rays slender and erect to spreading in flower and fruit | Ammi majus |
| All leaves with filiform segments with entire margins; umbels with 40–100 rays; rays slender in the flower becoming thickened and hardened in fruit | Ammi visnaga |
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