Wild Carrot

The Wild Carrot, otherwise known as Queen Anne’s Lace or Bird’s Nest, is a common plant in the Parsley Family. It’s most distinctive features are the roots, which resemble and smell like carrots, and the flat-topped umbel of white flowers. It is most typically found in dry fields. It grows to 1 to 3 feet in height and has a slightly hairy stem.

The edible root tastes quite a bit like a carrot, and the first year roots have the most flavor. There are other similar species, some of which are deadly poisonous, therefore it is critical to correctly identify this plant before consuming it.

Like the cultivated carrot, the wild carrot root is edible while young, but the wild carrot will quickly becomes too woody to consume with age. Incidentally, its use for the purpose of birth control was first described by Hippocrates over 2,000 years ago in the form of a teaspoon of crushed seeds.

Similar species include:

• Water Hemlocks (Cicuta) – DEADLY POISONOUS
• Fool’s Parsley (Aethusa cynapium) – poisonous
• Hemlock Parsley (Conioselinum chinense)
• Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum) – DEADLY POISONOUS
• Caraway (Carum carvi)
• Other members of the Parsley Family

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