Daucus carota

Carrot (Daucus carota ), illustration

The carrot ( Daucus carota ) is a flowering plant in the carrot family ( Apiaceae ). We distinguish several subspecies.

The carrot (Daucus carota subsp. Sativus ), also called the garden carrot, carrot, yellow beet, root or Swiss carrot, is a cultural form of the wild carrot (Daucus carota subsp. Carota), presumably with the southern giant carrot ( Daucus carota subsp. Maximus ) and possibly of Oriental black carrot ( Daucus carota subsp. afghanicus ) was crossed.

Description

Daucus carota grow as a biennial herbaceous plant, reaching heights of growth of up to 120 cm. It is formed a thick Pflahlwurzel. The oblong leaves are two to three times pinnately divided. The top segments are linear to lanceolate, 2-15 × 0.5 to 4 mm.

The Blütenstandsschäfte are 10 to 55 cm long. In the second year a compound umbel is formed. The foliage leaf-like bracts of the umbel are pinnately lobed or rarely easy and 3 to 30 mm long. The unequal rays are 2 to 7.5 cm long. The five to seven bracts of umbellules are simple or two-to three-lobed and the flowers can surpass. The petals are white, sometimes yellow or pink. The prickly, egg-shaped dry, two-piece split fruit, a Doppelachäne is 3-4 × 2 mm in size. The flowering period extends from May to July.

System

The species name Daucus carota was first published in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum, 1, p 242.

There are several subspecies (selection):

• Carrot ( Daucus carota subsp sativus Hoffmann, Syn. Carota sativa Rupr. )
• Wild carrot (Daucus carota L. subsp. Carota)
• Giant Carrot (Daucus carota subsp. Maximus ( Desf. ) Ball)
• Black Carrot (Daucus carota subsp. Afghanicus )

Toxic effect

When dealing with the beet can cause contact dermatitis. The skin irritations are phytotoxic reaction caused by the major allergen Falcarinol.

Pictures

Nest -shaped rolled fruit umbel.

Prickly fruit.

Swell

• She Menglan & Mark F. Watson: Daucus in the Flora of China, Volume 14, p 205: Daucus carota - Online. ( Description section )
• E. Nasir: Umbelliferae in the Flora of Pakistan: Daucus carota - Online. ( Description section )
• Roth / Daunderer / Kormann: poisonous plants plant toxins. 4th edition.