365 Urban Species. #056: Wild Carrot

Urban species #056: Wild carrot Daucus carota

Some weeds are identifiable from their persistent winter remains. Wild carrot, more often called Queen Anne's lace when in flower and sometimes called "bird's nest" when dry, is distinctive. The flower type, known as an "umbel," retains its delicate skeletal form (see photograph behind cut, below).

Wild carrot was used as an herb for centuries before it was cultivated a the familiar staple root vegetable. Evidence points to an origin in what is now Afghanistan, and use of the plant spread into Europe and Egypt. It was known to the Greeks and Romans (though it was purple or white, not orange) as well as the Chinese, and the Moors brought it to Spain. The Dutch developed an orange variety, in honor of the royals of the House of Orange.
The fact that the vegetable stores so well made it indispensable to northern Europeans, who brought it to North America, and found that the Spaniard had beaten them to it. Native Americans quickly developed herbal uses for this new plant.

One of the reasons for the great success of this species is simply, that it is a weed. By definition, weeds do well in areas disturbed by human activity. Wild carrot sprouts along paths, on roadsides, and infrequently mowed fields. You may be tempted to pull these weeds for some free food, but you will find wild carrot root to be white, tough, and not as plump as the cultivated variety. Wild foods enthusiasts will also deep-fry the flower heads and grind the dried roots up to make a coffee substitute. Despite its long history and known usefulness, it is considered invasive over most of North America.

For more information, consult as I did, the carrot museum, a website overflowing with facts and lore, though sorely in need of an editor.

( two more pictures )