Daucus carota
| Daucus carota | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Life Cycle: | Biennial |
| Height: | 2' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Late Summer |
| Meadows | |
| Native to: | |
| Shelter | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Daucus carota (common name: wild carrot)
Propagation: Seed - sow August/September or April in situ. The seed germinates better if it is given a period of cold stratification.
Cultivation: Prefers a sunny position and a well-drained neutral to alkaline soil[1][2].
A good plant for the summer meadow[1], it is a food plant for caterpillars of the Swallow-tail Butterfly[3].
This species is the parent of the cultivated carrot[3]. It can act as an alternative host for pests and diseases of the cultivated carrots.
The plant has become a pest weed in N. America, where it is spreading rapidly and crowding out native vegetation[4].
The whole plant, when bruised, gives off an aniseed-like scent[5].
Range: Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa, China and eastern India.
Habitat: Cultivated and waste land, amongst grass, especially by the sea and on chalk[6][7].
Edibility: Root - cooked[8]. Thin and stringy[K].
The flower clusters can be french-fried to produce a carrot-flavoured gourmet's delight[9].
The aromatic seed is used as a flavouring in stews etc[8][9].
The dried roasted roots are ground into a powder and are used for making coffee[9].
Medicinal: The wild carrot is an aromatic herb that acts as a diuretic, soothes the digestive tract and stimulates the uterus[2]. A wonderfully cleansing medicine, it supports the liver, stimulates the flow of urine and the removal of waste by the kidneys[10].
The whole plant is anthelmintic, carminative, deobstruent, diuretic, galactogogue, ophthalmic, stimulant[6][11][12][13][14][15]. An infusion is used in the treatment of various complaints including digestive disorders, kidney and bladder diseases and in the treatment of dropsy[6][2]. An infusion of the leaves has been used to counter cystitis and kidney stone formation, and to diminish stones that have already formed[10]. Carrot leaves contain significant amounts of porphyrins, which stimulate the pituitary gland and lead to the release of increased levels of sex hormones[10]. The plant is harvested in July and dried for later use.
A warm water infusion of the flowers has been used in the treatment of diabetes[16].
The grated raw root, especially of the cultivated forms, is used as a remedy for threadworms[16][17][10]. The root is also used to encourage delayed menstruation[16]. The root of the wild plant can induce uterine contractions and so should not be used by pregnant women[16]. A tea made from the roots is diuretic and has been used in the treatment of urinary stones[17].
The seeds are diuretic[16][18], carminative, emmenagogue and anthelmintic[6][18]. An infusion is used in the treatment of oedema, flatulent indigestion and menstrual problems[2]. The seed is a traditional 'morning after' contraceptive and there is some evidence to uphold this belief. It requires further investigation[17]. Carrot seeds can be abortifacient and so should not be used by pregnant women[10].
Usage: An essential oil obtained from the seed has an orris-like scent[2]. It is used in perfumery and as a food flavouring[19][2]. The oil has also been used cosmetically in anti-wrinkle creams[2].
Pollinators: Flies, beetles
Habit: Biennial
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: Carrots sometimes cause allergic reactions in some people[19]. Skin contact with the sap is said to cause photo-sensitivity and/or dermatitis in some people[18].
Daucus has been reported to contain acetone, asarone, choline, ethanol, formic acid, HCN, i
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Baines, Chris. Making a Wildlife Garden.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Diggs, George and Barney Lipscomb. Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas. Botanical Research Institute, 1999.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Harris, Ben. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health, 1973.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ Chiej, Roberto. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald, 1984.
- ↑ Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
- ↑ Triska, Jan. Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn, 1975.
- ↑ Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ Mills, Simon. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books, 1980.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.