The flower of wild carrot has a reddish-brown floret in the center, |
First-year leaves of wild carrot (left) and poison hemlock (right) may |
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Habitat: dry fields, wastelands, pastures, and no-till field crops
Life cycle: biennial, forming a rosette the first year and producing flowers and seed in the second
First Year Growth Habit: a basal rosette
Second Year Growth Habit: 1-3 feet tall, branched and erect
Leaves: alternate, pinnately compound, finely divided and hairy
Flowering Stem: tall, hairy, stout and branched
Inflorescence: June - October (second year). Terminal umbels of tiny, white, 5-petaled flowers are 3-5 inches in diameter with one dark reddish-brown floret in the center. Umbel becomes concave as it matures.
Root: fleshy taproot
Similar plants: Leaves have the appearance and odor of a garden carrot. Wild carrots taproot is not as large as the garden carrot. The plant also resembles poison hemlock (Conium maculatum). The dark floret in the center of the inflorescence in second year and a distinctive carrot smell in the first year will help distinguish this common weed.
The problem is.... prolific seed production and a large, fleshy taproot that is difficult to pull. Because the weed is attractive it has been allowed to spread in many areas.
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The flower of wild carrot has a reddish-brown floret in the center, |
First-year leaves of wild carrot (left) and poison hemlock (right) may |
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