Wild carrot is thriving on our verges and in the church wildflower areas. The common name “Queen Anne’s lace” is apt as the flower head resembles the most delicate lace. It shares this common name with Cow Parsley. The link to Wild Carrot comes from the central dark purple flower present on some flower heads - in legend a spot of blood from the Queen’s lacemaking finger. Our wild carrot flowers are already curling inwards to form a “nest” of seeds (its other common name is “bird’s nest”). I once found a sleeping bee inside a seed basket and now can’t resist having a peak. The role of the central dark spot remains a mystery. Darwin concluded that it had “no functional importance to the plant” and more modern science has been unable to prove him wrong.
Wild carrot supports a wide variety of insects, and is known to be a food plant for the wonderful swallowtail butterfly, a migrant from Europe whose visits are increasing with climate change.
Humans have used this plant for food and medicine since ancient times.Medicinal and food uses. The flowers can be eaten raw or battered and deep fried, the leaves used in salads and the seeds in breads or soups and stews. The roots are rather tough to be useful. Foraging wild carrot comes with the important caveats of knowing how to distinguish the very poisonous look-alike plants (especially poison hemlock and fool’s parsley). Key features are the pretty “underskirts” of green bracts, hairy stems and carrot smell. Also being aware it should be avoided if pregnant (or hoping to be - Ancient Greeks used it as a contraceptive). The sap can provoke a sun sensitive dermatitis.
Wild carrot is the direct parent of our “grocery” carrot. Check out The world carrot museum a virtual museum devoted to the history, evolution, science, sociology, music and art of Carrots. Packed with carrot things you didn’t know you needed to know it is strangely compelling. American author Dave Barry described the website as reflecting "a level of interest in carrots that would probably trouble a psychiatric professional".
As a bonus treat for reading so far - look for Linsey Pollack on YouTube making and playing a carrot clarinet Carrot clarinet!
And a bonus poem. Queen Anne's Lace
Queen Anne, Queen Anne, has washed her lace
(She chose a summer's day)
And hung it in a grassy place
To whiten, if it may.
Queen Anne, Queen Anne, has left it there,
And slept the dewy night;
Then waked, to find the sunshine fair,
And all the meadows white.
Queen Anne, Queen Anne, is dead and gone
(She died a summer's day
But left her lace to whiten in
Each weed-entangled way!
Mary Leslie Newton
Photos from Catherine Truscott