Obstetrics Abortifacients

Wild carrot Wikipedia

Taxobox begin | color = lightgreen | name = Wild Carrot
Taxobox image | image = Image:QALace2675.JPG|240px | caption =
Taxobox begin placement | color = lightgreen
Taxobox regnum entry | taxon = Plantae
Taxobox divisio entry | taxon = Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta
Taxobox classis entry | taxon = Magnoliopsida
Taxobox ordo entry | taxon = Apiales
Taxobox familia entry | taxon = Apiaceae
Taxobox genus entry | taxon = Daucus
Taxobox species entry | taxon = D. carota
Taxobox end placement
Taxobox section binomial botany | color = lightgreen | binomial_name = Daucus carota | author = Carolus Linnaeus|L.
Taxobox end

Wild carrot (Daucus carota) is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native to temperate regions of Europe and southwest Asia; it is the ancestor of the domesticated carrot.

It is a biennial plant growing up to 1 m tall, bearing an umbel of bright white flowers that turn into a "birds's nest" seed case after blooming. Very similar in appearance to the deadly Conium|poison hemlock, it is distinguished by a mix of bi-pinnate and tri-pinnate Leaf|leaves, fine hairs on its stems and leaves, a root that smells like carrots, and occasionally a single dark red flower in its center.

Cultivation and uses
See carrot for the modern cultivated forms of the species.

Like the cultivated carrot, the wild carrot root is edible while young, but quickly becomes too woody to consume. A teaspoon of crushed seeds has long been used as a contraception|contraceptive - its use for this purpose was first described by Hippocrates over 2,000 years ago. Research conducted on mice has offered a degree of confirmation for this use - it was found that Wild carrot disrupts the implantation process, and is thus an abortifacient. China|Chinese studies have also indicated that the seeds block progesterone synthesis, which could explain this effect.

It is recommended that, as with all herbal remedies and wild food gathering, one use appropriate caution. Extra caution should be used in this case, as it bears close resemblance to a dangerous species.

Wild carrot is introduced and naturalisation (biology)|naturalised in North America, where it is often known as "Queen Anne's lace".

Category:Apiaceae|Carrot, Wild
Category:Abortifacients
Category:Chemical contraception
Category:Herbal & fungal drugs/medicines

de:Wilde M??hre
nl:Wilde peen

Last Modified:   2005-12-23