Wild carrot - Daucus carota
- The Foraging Course Company
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Edible plant - novice Season - spring to autumn Common names wild carrot, Queen Anne's lace, Bishop's lace, bees' nest, bird's nest, European wild carrot, carrot flower
Scientific name meaning: Daucus is a Greek word referring to umbelliferous plants. Carota is also Greek in origin from karoton, meaning carrot
Habitat  Wild carrot can be found on and in roadsides, wasteground, gardens, cliffs, grassland and field edges. There is a sub species that is a coastal specialist. |
Overall structure  This hairy plant has a large basal rosette of bi-pinnate leaves. It's flowers stalks, which produce multiple large white umbels, can reach over 1m in height. |
Leaves  The hairy leaves are three-times pinnate and up to 15cm in length. They are bright green. |
Stem  The stem is covered in coarse hair and can reach over 1m tall. |
Flower  The white flowers appear in densely-packed umbels throughout the summer. In the centre of the umbel is usually what appears to be a purple-red spot, which is created by a small number of coloured florets. Underneath the many rayed umbel are pinnatifid bracts, which give the appearance of a petticoat. The bract and rays are hairy. |
Seeds  After pollination, the rays and bracts close up forming a ball. The seeds are protected within this mass until maturation. The seeds themselves are oval, hairy and have four spined ridges. |
Roots  The root is white to cream in colour. It can reach up to 25cm in length. It is unusual to find wild carrot roots that are more than a couple of centimetres in diameter at their widest part. |
Possible lookalikes  May be confused with many of the white flowered Apiaceae (carrot) family including the deadly poisonous Hemlock (Conium maculatum), pictured. However, Hemlock is hairless and wild carrot is very hairy. The hairiness and large bracts are also key identification points to differentiate from other similar looking family members. |
Use as a food The flowers, seeds and roots of wild carrot can all be eaten and have a similar flavour to cultivated carrot. However, the root is more stringy and woody than cultivated carrot. See hazards Hazards All aerial parts have been used to prevent and terminate pregnancy. Consumption while pregnant or trying to conceive is strongly discouraged. Handling of foliage is known to causes hypersensitivity and photosensitivity in some individuals
Use in herbal medicine and medicine Has been used to prevent conception and terminate pregnancy partly by causing contractions of the uterus. For this reason, it has also been used to increase menstrual flow. Other uses include as a diuretic and stimulant, for increasing milk flow, reducing gas, and treating eye and urinary conditions
If you are suffering from any ailment or need medical advice, please see your General Practitioner Other uses Oil from wild carrot has been used in perfumes, anti-ageing preparations and cosmetics
Importance to other species Provides a food source for pollinators and birds
Always stay safe when foraging. You need to be 100% sure of your identification, 100% sure that your foraged item is edible, and 100% sure that you are not allergic to it (it is good practice to always try a small amount of any new food you are consuming). If in doubt, leave it out!