Daucus carota, whose common names include wild carrot, bird’s nest, bishop’s lace, and Queen Anne’s lace (North America), is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, (the ‘umbellifer’ family – such as the highly poisonous hemlock and the commonly seen cow parsley) with white flowers and feathery leaves. It is a dainty frothy wild flower often with a tiny red flower in the centre.
There are several stories as to why the wild version is named ‘Queen Anne’s lace‘. Most revolve around King James I’s consort – the Queen Anne in question – who is said to have pricked her finger and stained some lace with a drop of blood. Wild carrot’s single red flower surrounded by frothy white blossom is quite evocative of this tale.
Wild carrot flowers in the summer (June to August). However, being an umbellifer, its skeletal frame often adds a stark beauty to the winter landscape. And from the picture below you can see why it is also called ‘Bird’s Nest’
The wild carrot’s root is tough and stringy and not particularly palatable, though it does smell like a carrot.
July Squares | Perspective
Cornwall in Colours 
These are really nice shots Jude; especially the first.
stunning, just stunning.
You’ve shown and told me everything so beautifully, Jude, but I’m bewildered by the red flower. Do you know why that appears in that froth of elegance? 🙂 🙂
No idea. It does not appear in every flower head, in fact this is the best I have ever seen.
How odd! But a good story 🙂 🙂
I have never seen anything like it, gorgeous.:-)
Fabulous flower heads, and I didn’t know the story about Queen Anne’s Lace.The closer you look at nature the more amazing it appears!
How lovely!
I’ve had it in the garden for a couple of years, but not this year – I really miss it!
Grows wild around here.
Sounds even better, I have to scrutinize our surroundings as well. It looks magnificent with such an abundance of flowers. The story is new to me. 👍🏻🤗
Grows on the coast so you might see some near you, very much like cow parsley with very distinctive seed heads.
I’ll have a look tomorrow going to the beach. The plant net identifier is great, especially when I know what to look for.
Love the story behind the bloom!
That first image is lovely,Jude!
Thanks Sue. Best one I have seen.
Aah
I like the story of the queen and the lace. We need to keep that old folklore alive! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
I have seen countless Queen Anne’s lace but never one with a red center. I wonder if that variety exists in the U.S.
Well the name comes from North America!
Wow. That is news too.