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Wild Carrot

©Frank Mayfield

Wild carrot

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Enw gwyddonol: Daucus carota
Wild carrot does, indeed, smell of carrots, but the roots are not like our cultivated, dinnertime favourite. Look for this umbellifer on chalk grasslands and coasts.

Top facts

Stats

Height: up to 75cm

Conservation status

Common.

Pryd i'w gweld

June to September

Ynghylch

Wild carrot is a widespread perennial plant of grasslands, particularly those on chalk soils, and coastlines. In bud, the dense umbels (umbrella-like) of flowers look reddish, but they soon bloom into white flowers. These flowers can be seen from June to September, eventually turning into concave, bird's-nest-like seed heads.

What to look for

The white umbels of Wild carrot are very densely packed and rounded. Its leaves are divided into narrow leaflets, and the plant is hairy.

Where to find

Found throughout the UK, but scarcer in Scotland.

Habitats

Roeddech chi yn gwybod?

The leaves and roots of Wild carrot do, indeed, smell of carrots, but the roots don't resemble the big, orange vegetables we have at the table and cultivate in the garden.