Visnaga daucoides aka Toothpickweed

Visnaga daucoides is part of Apiaceae, the carrot family. Gardeners call it toothpick plant or Spanish carrot. It also has the names Ammi visnaga and Daucus visnaga. Its native range takes in Macaronesia and the Mediterranean region. It reaches east to Iran and south to eastern Ethiopia. It grows in fields and sandy places in this range. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

This upright plant is an annual or biennial. Its fine leaves split into many parts, giving a light, open look. It sheds its leaves and has a bushy shape. Garden plants grow about 1.6–3.3 feet (0.5–1 metre) tall. They spread 0.3–1.6 feet (0.1–0.5 metres). White flowers form round heads from early summer to early autumn. Each head can span about 0.4 feet (0.12 metres). Green seed heads then take their place and add interest.

Grow it in full sun or part shade. It accepts chalk, clay, loam, and sand that drain well. Acid, neutral, and alkaline soils all suit it. Keep the soil moist, but let water drain well. Plants may need stakes to hold their stems upright. In spring, sow seeds where they will grow. Cut plants back once they have stopped blooming. The RHS gives it an H6 hardiness rating. This covers UK temperatures of about −20 to −15°C. Plants reach full size in one to two years.

Use it in flower beds, borders, and informal cottage gardens. It suits wildflower meadows, too, and gives stems for cutting. Its fine leaves contrast with the broad white flower heads. The green heads keep the show going after flowers fade. The RHS reports few usual pest or disease problems. People have used the fruiting pedicel as a toothpick. This is the small stalk that holds the fruit. People have also used the seeds to clean teeth.

People have eaten the leaves raw for their aromatic taste. This food use does not mean there is no risk. Sap on skin may cause dermatitis, a form of skin rash. It may also make skin sensitive to sunlight. Do not use it as medicine while pregnant or breastfeeding. Avoid such use while taking blood-thinning drugs, too. Long use can cause nausea, vomiting, headaches, and other effects. In traditional medicine, people have used seeds for asthma and kidney stones. These uses do not prove that home treatment is safe.