Bird's nest

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Queen Anne's lace
• wild carrot
• Carrot
• bishop's lace

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Caucalis carota

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and order Apiales, it is further organized into the family Apiaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Daucus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known scientifically as Daucus carota, exhibits a specific presence across several regions in Northern Europe. Its distribution can be traced through various island nations and Scandinavian territories. Specifically, it is found growing within the borders of Denmark and Finland. The species also inhabits the coastal and inland areas of Great Britain, Ireland, and Iceland. Consequently, its range covers a significant portion of the northernmost maritime and continental environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Daucus carota is characterized by its wide adaptability across varying topographical gradients, occupying an elevational range that extends from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 3000 m AMSL. It frequently thrives in anthropogenic habitats (Área Antrópica), often colonizing disturbed soils or landscapes influenced by human activity. In terms of biological interactions and survival strategies, the species possesses active defense mechanisms to mitigate herbivory and environmental stressors. Furthermore, its symbiotic profile indicates that it does not form mycorrhizal associations (Mycorrhiza), suggesting a different nutritional strategy or a reliance on direct soil nutrient uptake compared to mycorrhizal-dependent species.

Defense :

yes

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Mycorrhiza :

no

Life history

The life history of Daucus carota is characterized by a biennial lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its developmental stages over a period of two years. During its initial year, it functions as a vegetative organism, focusing on the establishment of a robust taproot and a basal rosette of foliage. As a hemicryptophyte, it maintains its perennating buds at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or soil, which allows it to survive unfavorable seasons. The plant exhibits deciduousness, shedding its foliage as it transitions between growth phases or responds to seasonal changes. After the first year of vegetative growth, the plant enters its second year to undergo reproductive development, producing an inflorescence before eventually completing its life cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

biennial

Morphology

The morphology of Daucus carota is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a terrestrial, independent plant that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit, though it primarily functions as a self-supporting structure with an erect shoot orientation. In terms of stature, the plant's height is variable, ranging from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 1.79 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.57 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.79 m

Plant height mean:

0.572666666666667 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Daucus carota is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation process and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits non-succulent foliage, with leaf forms described as elliptic and reaching a maximum leaf length of 15 cm. Its leaf morphology supports a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 197.63 cm²/g, reflecting the structural density and resource allocation of its photosynthetic tissues. Furthermore, the species is non-carnivorous and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nutrient availability rather than biological nitrogen fixation or the capture of animal prey to satisfy its nutritional requirements.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

197.63 cm²/g

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

Reproduction in Daucus carota is characterized by a sexual process through bisexual flowers, though asexual reproduction is noted to be absent. The plant follows a monocarpic life cycle, producing a distinct umbel inflorescence featuring violet-colored flowers. The flowering period typically commences in June and concludes in July. Pollination is a biotic process involving insects, specifically with beetles playing a role in the pollination syndrome. Once fertilization occurs—which can occur via self-fertilization—the plant develops dry fruits. These fruits vary in size, with a mean length of approximately 0.28 cm (ranging from 0.15 to 0.4 cm) and a mean width of 0.16 cm (ranging from 0.2 to 0.2 cm). The resulting seeds are small, with a mean length of 2.7 mm and a mean volume of 0.87 mm³. The seed mass is quite low, averaging 0.0010029375 g, with a range between 0.0005 g and 0.0032 g. High reproductive output is evident as the plant can produce more than 1000 seeds per fruit. For dispersal, the species utilizes a zoochorous syndrome, specifically via epizoochory, allowing the seeds to be transported by animals.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

epizoochorous

Flower colour :

violet

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.4 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.283333333333333 cm

Fruit length min:

0.15 cm

Fruit width max:

0.2 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.166666666666667 cm

Inflorescence :

umbel

Monocarpy :

monocarp

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

beetle

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

2.7 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0032 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0010029375 g

Seed mass min:

5e-04 g

Seed volume max:

0.87 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Daucus carota has 3 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, seed.

Leaf

1. Journal of plant research

Root

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Seed

1. Journal of plant research

Chemicals

Daucus carota has 333 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Falcarinol, luteolin, Carotol, ALPHA-PINENE, CHLOROGENIC ACID.

Falcarinol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biochemical pharmacology
3. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
4. Food & function

luteolin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Pharmacological reports : PR

Carotol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of dietary supplements
3. Scientific reports

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Clinics (Sao Paulo, Brazil)

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports

Carotatoxin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biochemical pharmacology

Carotenoids

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Horticulture research

Lutein

1. Dr. Duke
2. Critical reviews in biotechnology

Panaxynol

1. Biochemical pharmacology
2. Food & function

STARCH

1. Dr. Duke
2. The British journal of nutrition

Activities

Daucus carota has 919 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antianxiety, Sedative, (-)-Chronotropic, (-)-Inotropic, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor.

Antianxiety

1. Dr. Duke
2. Clinics (Sao Paulo, Brazil)

Sedative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Clinics (Sao Paulo, Brazil)

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AChE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Daucus carota has 14 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Apoptosis, Cardiovascular diseases, arousal, cancer, cataract.

Apoptosis

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Cardiovascular diseases

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Arousal

1. Electronic physician

Cancer

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Cataract

1. Critical reviews in biotechnology

Contact dermatitis

1. Archives of dermatology

Diabetes mellitus

1. Diabetes research (Edinburgh, Scotland)

Diarrhea

1. Revista de gastroenterologia del Peru : organo oficial de la Sociedad de Gastroenterologia del Peru

Inflammation

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Lubrication

1. Electronic physician

Preparations

Daucus carota has 7 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Daucus carota oil extract (DCOE), Decoction or infusion, essential oils, ethanol extracts, seeds.

Daucus carota oil extract (dcoe)

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Decoction or infusion

1. Revista de gastroenterologia del Peru : organo oficial de la Sociedad de Gastroenterologia del Peru

Essential oils

1. Journal of dietary supplements

Ethanol extracts

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Seeds

1. Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology

Tissue

1. Biotechnology letters

Wild carrot halva: mixed daucus carota and several herbs with honey

1. Electronic physician