Description Daucus carota

queen anns lace -- daucus carota



fruit cluster containing oval fruits hooked spines

the wild carrot herbaceous, variable biennial plant grows between 30 , 60 cm (1 , 2 ft) tall, , hairy, stiff, solid stem. leaves tripinnate, finely divided , lacy, , overall triangular in shape. leaves bristly , alternate in pinnate pattern separates thin segments. flowers small , dull white, clustered in flat, dense umbels. umbels terminal , approximately 3–4 inches (8–10 cm) wide. may pink in bud , may have reddish or purple flower in centre of umbel. lower bracts three-forked or pinnate, distinguishes plant other white-flowered umbellifers. seeds develop, umbel curls @ edges, becomes more congested, , develops concave surface. fruits oval , flattened, short styles , hooked spines. fruit small, dry , bumpy protective hairs surrounding it. fruit of daucus carota has 2 mericarp, or bicarpellate. endosperm of fruit grows before embryo. dried umbels detach plant, becoming tumbleweeds. function of tiny red flower, coloured anthocyanin, attract insects. wild carrot blooms in summer , fall. thrives best in sun partial shade. daucus carota commonly found along roadsides , in unused fields.

similar in appearance deadly poison hemlock, d. carota distinguished mix of tripinnate leaves, fine hairs on solid green stems , on leaves, root smells carrots, , single dark red flower in center of umbel.