Ammi visnaga
Bisnaga
(c) Eleftherios Katsillis, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Eleftherios Katsillis · licence
Family: Apiaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Ammi visnaga (Bisnaga) is a non-native California herb in the Apiaceae family, recognized by . majus; distinguished by coastal range and 60-100 rays vs 20-60.
Bisnaga is a naturalized annual found in coastal California in southern coastal regions, frequently occurring along roadsides and disturbed areas at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces delicate white flowers in wide, intricate umbrella-like clusters with numerous thin rays extending up to 5 centimeters long. Growing 20 to 80 centimeters tall with an upright form, it develops slender stems with finely divided, triangular-ovate leaves that are intricately dissected into small segments. Its lacy leaves are typically 5 to 20 centimeters long, with individual leaf segments ranging from 5 to 35 millimeters, creating a fine, feathery appearance. The fruit is small, approximately 2 to 2.5 millimeters long, with an oblong-ovate shape.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated from A. majus; distinguished by coastal range and 60-100 rays vs 20-60
Habitat and range
Habitat: Roadsides, railroad tracks, disturbed areas
Elevation: generally < 1000 m
California counties: Santa Barbara, Yolo, Solano, Orange, Sacramento, Riverside, Colusa, Butte, Glenn, Santa Clara
Outside California: native to Eurasia
Bloom period
Ammi visnaga blooms Jun-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Daucus: Ammi is completely smooth; Daucus is hairy with bristly fruits.; vs Conium: Ammi has prominent leaf-like bracts; Conium lacks bracts and has purple-spotted stems.; vs Visnaga: Ammi has divided leaf-like bracts; Visnaga has thread-like undivided bracts.; vs Perideridia: Ammi has large dissected leaf-like bracts; Perideridia has tiny simple bracts or none.; vs Apiastrum: Ammi has alternate leaves and many rays; Apiastrum has opposite leaves and 2-3 rays.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ammi visnaga native to California?
No. Ammi visnaga is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Ammi visnaga bloom?
Ammi visnaga blooms Jun-Jul.
Where in California does Ammi visnaga grow?
Ammi visnaga occurs in Santa Barbara, Yolo, Solano, Orange, Sacramento, Riverside, Colusa, Butte and other counties, at elevations of generally < 1000 m.
What plant family does Ammi visnaga belong to?
Ammi visnaga is in the Apiaceae family, genus Ammi.
What habitat does Ammi visnaga grow in?
Ammi visnaga grows in Roadsides, railroad tracks, disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.