See text Daucus carota, whose common names include wild carrot,[3] European wild carrot, bird's nest, bishop's lace, and Queen Anne's lace (North America), is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae.

The wild carrot is a herbaceous, somewhat variable biennial plant that grows between 30 and 120 cm (1 and 4 ft) tall,[4][5] and is roughly hairy, with a stiff, solid stem.

The leaves are 5–15 cm (2–6 in) long,[5] bristly and alternate in a pinnate pattern that separates into thin segments.

The fruits are small, dry, bumpy, oval and flattened, with short styles and hooked spines, as well as protective hairs surrounding it.

[6][5] Similar in appearance to the deadly poison hemlock, D. carota is distinguished by a mix of tripinnate leaves, fine hairs on its solid green stems and on its leaves, a root that smells like carrots, and occasionally a single dark red flower in the center of the umbel.

[13] Both plants have been spread into North America by European settlers and have become common wildflowers; Daucus carota is often known as Queen Anne's lace there.

[15] The function of the central dark floret of D. carota has been subject to debate since Charles Darwin speculated that they are a vestigial trait.

[16] It has been suggested that they have the adaptive function of mimicking insects, thus either discouraging herbivory,[17] or attracting pollinators[18] by indicating the presence of food or opportunities for mating.

[24] The following subtaxa are accepted:[2] Native to temperate regions of Europe[5] and southwest Asia, the plant was spread to North America and Australia.

[6] D. carota bears a close resemblance to poison hemlock, and the leaves of the wild carrot may cause phytophotodermatitis,[30][26] so caution should also be used when handling the plant.

The seeds and flowers have been used as a supposed method of contraception and an abortifacient for centuries, but scientific research has not confirmed any such effects and there is no evidence of safety.

[32] This species is also documented to boost tomato plant production when kept nearby, and it can provide a microclimate of cooler, moister air for lettuce, when intercropped with it.

[36] The history of Daucus carota and its cultivation in different parts of the world can be traced back through historical texts and artwork.

Paintings from the 16th and 17th century, for example, that are of maids in a market or farmers' most recent crops can provide information on carrots' history.

Studying such paintings shows that yellow or red roots were cultivated in Turkey, North Africa, and Spain.