Queen Anne's Lace

Also called:
wild carrot, bird's nest, and bishop's lace

Scientific Name: Daucus carota

Volkswalk: Milwaukie - Elks Island 7/27/13

Queen Anne's Lace was introduced from Europe, and the carrots that we eat today originated from this plant.

The flowers are tiny and white, blooming in lacy, flat-topped clusters. Each little flower has a dark, purplish center.

People can eat the large taproot, which is a carrot. The leaves of the plant are toxic, and may irritate the skin.

After the flowers mature, they curl inward to build a "birds' nest" shape.

Note, the small red or purple flower at the center of the picture

Queen Ann's Lace is so called because:
a) the flower resembles lace and
b) the red flower in the center is thought to represent a blood droplet where Queen Anne pricked herself with a needle when she was making the lace.

The scientific function of the tiny red flower is to attract insects.

some additional pictures