Greater Ammi Toxic?

Updated 2026-03-06| 4 min read| 2,270 found this helpful

Ammi majus

Ammi majus is confirmed toxic to cats, dogs, and horses per ASPCA toxicology records

Its core toxic component is insoluble calcium oxalate crystals

Ingestion leads to immediate oral pain, drooling, vomiting, and potential difficulty swallowing in affected animals

FAQ

Is Greater Ammi toxic to Humans?

No formal human toxicity data on record; accidental ingestion is expected to cause mild oral burning, irritation, and self-limiting gastrointestinal discomfort (Low)

Is Greater Ammi toxic to Cats?

Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing (Moderate)

Is Greater Ammi toxic to Dogs?

Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing (Moderate)

Is Greater Ammi toxic to Horses?

Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing (Moderate)

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Toxicity Details

Humans

Low

No formal human toxicity data on record; accidental ingestion is expected to cause mild oral burning, irritation, and self-limiting gastrointestinal discomfort

Cats

Moderate

Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing

Dogs

Moderate

Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing

Horses

Moderate

Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing

Toxicity Snapshot

Toxic PartsAll above-ground plant parts, particularly young leaves and stems, contain toxic concentrations of insoluble calcium oxalates

Exposure RoutePrimary exposure route is ingestion; dermal contact with broken plant tissue may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals or animals

Toxic CompoundsInsoluble calcium oxalates

First Aid & Prevention

First 30 Minutes

• Immediately remove all remaining plant matter from the affected animal's mouth to stop further exposure
• Offer small, cool sips of plain water or unsweetened milk to soothe irritated oral tissue
• Closely monitor the animal for worsening symptoms like persistent vomiting or breathing difficulty for the first 60 minutes post-exposure

Contact Vet Immediately

• The animal displays difficulty breathing, swallowing, or extreme oral swelling
• Vomiting is persistent, or blood is visible in saliva, vomit, or stool
• The animal is confirmed to have ingested a large quantity of Ammi majus plant material

Prevention

• Keep cultivated Greater Ammi plants out of reach of pets and away from horse/cattle pastures
• Remove wild-growing Ammi majus specimens from areas regularly accessed by pets or grazing livestock
• Avoid feeding unknown white-flowered Apiaceae family plants to any companion or farm animal

Treatment & Prognosis

• Veterinary care typically includes administration of oral pain relievers and antihistamines to reduce swelling and discomfort
• Intravenous fluid support may be provided for animals suffering from dehydration due to inability to swallow
• Severe cases with partial airway obstruction may require short-term supportive respiratory care

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Professional Toxicology

Scientific NameAmmi majus

AliasesBishop's Weed、False Queen Anne's Lace

Toxicity Grade

HumansLow

CatsModerate

DogsModerate

HorsesModerate

Target Organs

Oral mucosaTonguePharynx (throat)EsophagusGastrointestinal tract

Mechanism of Action

• Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals in plant tissue pierce the soft mucosa of the mouth, tongue, throat, and gastrointestinal tract upon ingestion, triggering immediate pain, inflammation, and swelling

Other Species Risk (CliniTox)

Information from CliniTox veterinary text.

Cattle: Suspected to have equivalent toxicity to horses, with ingestion causing oral irritation, drooling, and gastrointestinal distress

Small companion mammals (rabbits, guinea pigs): Ingestion is expected to cause similar symptoms of oral pain, drooling, and refusal to eat due to mucosal irritation

Confusion Risk

The following plants look similar and may be confused:

Queen Anne's Lace Daucus carota

Visually nearly identical to Ammi majus due to shared umbrella-shaped white flower clusters; Queen Anne's Lace has a distinct small dark purple floret at the center of its bloom, which Ammi majus lacks

Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris

Has similar small white clustered Apiaceae flowers; Cow Parsley has smaller, more rounded leaf segments and blooms earlier in the spring than Ammi majus

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Related Toxic Plants

Poison Hemlock

Conium maculatum

Severe toxicity, ingestion of small amounts can be fatal for all species

Water Hemlock

Cicuta maculata

Severe toxicity, one of the most toxic native North American plants, fatal even in small doses

Giant Hogweed

Heracleum mantegazzianum

High toxicity, skin contact with sap causes severe blistering and permanent scarring

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Data Sources

1. ASPCA Animal Poison Control

This information is for reference only and does not constitute medical advice. If ingestion or poisoning is suspected, seek medical or veterinary attention immediately.

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