wild carrot

description
Daucus carota is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae.

Wild carrot as it is commonly called is a biennial plant. It will grow a rosette of leaves in the spring and summer, while also building up the stout taproot that stores the large amounts of sugars that will allow the plant to flower in its second year.

The first or primary umbel is produced at the end of the main floral stem; while smaller secondary umbels sprout from the main branch, and then will branch into third, fourth, and even later-flowering umbels.

The large primary umbel can contain up to 50 umbellets. Each of these umbellets may have up to 50 flowers; however the subsequent umbels will have fewer flowers. Flowers are small and white in color, on occasion they will have a light green or yellow tint. They have five petals, five stamens, and an entire calyx.

The fruit that the plant develops is a schizocarp consisting of two mericarps; each mericarp is an achene or true seed. Domesticated carrots familiar to gardens everywhere are cultivars of a subspecies, Daucus carota subsp. sativus.

common names & nomenclature
The multitude of tiny white flowers together appear lace-like and have given rise to the common name Queen Anne’s Lace.

Also known as:
wild carrot, queen anne's lace, bishop’s lace, birds nest weed

Daucus carota is native to temperate regions of Europe, southwest Asia and naturalized to North America and Australia.

climate
Wild carrot grows on cultivated and waste land, amongst grass, especially by the sea, and in sunny meadows.

soil
Prefers a well-drained neutral to alkaline soil.

growing
Sow seeds in August/September or April directly in the garden soil. The seed germinates better if it is given a period of cold stratification.

harvesting
Thewild carrot plant is harvested in July when the flowers bloom and is dried for later use. Roots and shoots can be harvested in spring when still tender.

preserving
Store dried wild carrot herb in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.