Daucus carota (L) Wild Carrot
NOMENCLATURE
Daucus: from Greek daukos (or dais) : to burn.
carrot: from Celtic for red of colour.
OTHER NAMES: philtron, sisaron, staphylinos, elaph- obosum, (Greek). Bees nest, kexs,
(Som). Cax, (Dor). Bird’s nest, (Sam, Wilts, War, Yks,Scot). Fiddle, (Lincs). Crow’s nest,
(Beds), Eltrot, CHants). Curran-petris, (Scot). Keggas, pigs parsley, (Corn). Carote, (France) .
Carcta, (Italy). Zanahoria,1 ‘(Spain). Karotte, mohre, (German). Peen, wortel , (Dutch). Karot,
gulerod, (Danish). Karoto, (Greek)’. Morkov, (Russia) .Korenje, (Yug).
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
TYPE: >or< hispid annual/biennial, 30-100cm. Hs. ROOTS: small spindle shaped,
whitish, slender,aromatic, acrid, disagreeable taste.
STEMS: solid, striate or ridged with dense patent to deflexed hairs.
UMBELS: 3~7cm diameter, compound. Rays humerous, unequaI hairy, 1-5cm.
Peduncle longer than rays,hairy. Outer partial umbels 3-fid.
LEAVES: fern like long staIks, broad basal sheaths, downy underneath. 2-3 pinnatifid
segments, pinnatifid lobes, 0.5-3cm, lanoolate to ovate & acuminate to obtuse,
hairy. Petiole of lower leaves slender, upper sheathing not expanded.
COTYLEDONS: tapered gradually at base, no petiole.
BRACTS : 7-13, equalling pedicels. 3-fid or pinnatifid, conspicious, the margins broadly
scarious. Bracteoles 7~1O; linear lanceolate, entirely scarious, ciliate -
FLOWER: white, the central one of the umbel usually red or Purpie. Very small, terminal,
leaf opposed, compound. Sepals triangular. Outer petals somewhat radiating; Calyx teeth small or.
0, petals notched with.turned up tip. Stamen longer than petals. Ovary clothed with bristly-hairs,
unequal.. Polliiation by short tounged flies, wasps, betties. Fl. 6-8.
FRUIT: 2-4 mm .oblong, ovoid, carpels convex. Dorsally compressed. Commisure
wide. Mericarps: ciliate primary ridges, 5, the 2nd, 4, stouter, more prominent, spiny, spines
flattened, smooth, glochidiate. Vittae solitary under each 2nd ridge. Styles 3-4 x > than
stylopodium, divergent, stigma capitate. 2n=18*
HABITAT: pastures, & hedgerows, downs, cliffs,
dry meadows, field margins. Light sandy loams.
DISTRIBUTION: native. Britain, coastal Scotland.
SUBSPECIES: Subsp. sativus. Subsp. gummifer.
MEDICINAL USES
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: essential oils; pectins, abundant provitamin A, .B1 +C, lecithin,
starch, extractine gluten,. aibumen, malic acid, carotin, volati le oil. 8% water, sugar
EFFECT: diuretic. soothes ‘digestive tract, stimulates uterus.
PARTS: whole plant.
APPLICATION: infusion for urinary stones, cystitis, gout, oedema, flatulent indegistion,
menstrual problems. Nervous / physical exhaustion, dropsy, internal inflammation, worms :
freshly grated for juice, over time. Powder for babies & children's diarrhoea.
HISTORICAL MEDICINAL USES
Diuretic, stimulant, ,deobstruent. DroPsy;. chronic kidney disease, bladder -infection: Infusion,
1oz roots night and day. Flatulance gravel, stone : strong decoction; -‘Worms~ gratted roots
for kids. Diarrhoea : -Root powder for babies. Windy: colic, hicough, dysentry;Lchronic ~
obstructions of viscera, jaundce, emmenagouge, in beginning of dropsies: seeds bruised; one tspn
night and day. Cancerous ulcers: Root poultice mitigates. Sores and Ulcers: leaves applied in
honey. Aperient infusion, of root. :Srnall purple flower:’~ epilepsy. Flowers boiled in wine as
love philtre: helped contraception. :
EDIBLE USES
Coffee substitute from roasted roots. Adds an aggreable flavour to malt
liquor, if infused in the vat. Fed to livestock.
Subsp. sativus (Hoffm) Arcangeli, the cultivated carrot has a fleshy tap root,important
food crop,eaten raw, grated or as veg, in salads, soups, stews, marinades for fish. Pureed
for invalid & baby food. Juice blended with citrus for mixed fruit juice. Fed to livestock.
First cultivated in Elizabeth I.
Carrot jam using Subsp. sativus wash, grate, boil roots to a pulp, add 3oz sugar to lib pulp,
juice & rind of two lemons, 3oz margarine, boil for 1 hour, bottle.
GARDEN USES
Light warm soil, deep manured. Seed March.
OTHER USES
Oil used in perfumes, flavourings, anti-wrinkle cream.
FOLKLORE
In James I time it was fashion for ladies to wear feathery leaves in head dress. Plant of Mercury.
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