Queen Anne's Lace

just starting to unfold. first one i have spotted this year. also called wild carrot, daucua carota, is related to the cultivated carrot. it is a biennial, meaning it lives for two years. the first year in grows large and the second year it blooms.

it is called queen anne's lace because the flower resembles lace and the tiny red flower in the center represents a drop of blood where queen anne pricked herself while making lace. the function of the tiny red flower is to attract insects.

the is root is edible when young and the seeds have been used throughout history as a form of natural birth control. this use was described by hippocrates over 2000 years ago. the leaves are slightly toxic and may irritate the skin. also, the plant bears close resemblance to poison hemlock.

it is called a noxious alien, meaning that it comes from outside the u.s. (europe), and is very hardy and clever--it out competes many of our natural wild plants.

it is quite lovely and intricate and beneficial to many insects.