WILD CARROT

(DAUCUS CAROTA L.)

Wild carrot, Devil´s plague, Queen Anne´s lace, Cenoura brava, Karotte, Mohrruebe, Gelbe ruebe, Morot, Gulrot, Gulero.

It is a biennial herbaceous species, it grows up to 1 meter, in the second year it develops an erect and branched tree with deeply divided green leaves. It has large inflorescence called "umbrellas" of globular shape, which in turn consists of umbrellas. The flowers that form umbrellas are small white and five petals; The central flower is dark red. The inflorescence has large yellowish bratts like leaves. The common cultivated carrot (Daucus carota L subsp. Sativus - Hoffm-Arcang.) Is characterized by a tuberized root of orange-red color - instead the wild carrot has a non-edged whitish root. Seed oil is extracted in steam stream - while root oil is obtained by extraction of red tuber and contains high concentrations of carotene. In the flowers there are small scented glands that attract insects. The inflorescences after the fertilization of flowers close to a bird's nest. It flowers in the spring from May until late December. The fruits are dandruffs of aculei that help the dissemination by the animals. The root is long-styled, yellowish, cylindrical, long 18-20 cm long with a diameter around 2 cm. In the common jargon it is common to refer to the carrot as to the edible part, orange, which is the root.

NUTRIENTS

α-pinene, β-pinene, carotolo, daucolo, limonene, β-elemene, cis β-bergamotene, &gamma-decalattone, β-farnesene, geraniolo, cariofillene, metil eugenolo, nerolidolo, vanillina, asarone, cumarina, acidi palmitico e butirrico, nichel. Inoltre:

Iodio 95 mg

Potassio 220 mg

Ferro 0.7 mg

Calcio 44 mg

Fosforo 37 mg

Magnesio: 11 mg

Zinco: 2,92 mg

Rame (mg): 0,19

Selenio (µg): 1

Tiamina (mg): 0,04

CULTIVATION

In the spontaneous state it is considered as weed plant and is easily found in sunny places and in arid and stony areas. The common carrot is cultivated throughout the year, but the best time for sowing is from February to March, in well-drained soil.

USE

Cracked or crude in many preparations and sweets. Seed oil is extracted in steam stream - while root oil is obtained by extraction of red tuber and contains high concentrations of carotene.

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