Wild Carrot , American Wild Carrot, Southwestern Carrot, Rattlesnake-weed
Daucus pusillus Michx.
Apiaceae (Parsley family)
Description
Wild Carrot is an introduced, cool-season annual that is also commonly named Southwestern Carrot or Rattlesnake-weed. It grows as an erect, single-stemmed plant reaching 1 to 3 feet or 0.3 to 0.9 m tall. When crushed, the taproot has the characteristic odor of a carrot. The leaves and stems are covered with stiff hairs, making the plant rough to the touch. The leaves are divided pinnately, having leaflets arranged on each side of the stalk, and can be from 1 to 7 inches or 2.54 to 17.8 cm long. The flowering stem is a flat-topped cluster of white flowers in which each flower stalk arises from about the same point. Bloom time starts in March and ends in May. Fruits are typically oblong and bristly with small barbs on the end of bristles. When the fruits ripen, they may cling to passing animals or the clothing of people for seed dispersal. Wild Carrot has little to no value for grazing livestock or wildlife.Habitat
This plant grows along roadsides and in fields, over-grazed pastures, streambanks, plains, dry hills, and disturbed areas throughout the state.Images
Plant Characteristics
Flower Color: White
Seed Type: Fruit/Berry
Duration: Annual, Biennial
Stem Texture: Hairy
Growth Habit: Forbs/Broadleaf
Leaf Shape
: Pinnately Compound
Season: Cool
Distribution
: 01 - Pineywoods, 02 - Gulf Prairies and Marshes, 03 - Post Oak Savannah, 04 - Blackland Prairies, 05 - Cross Timbers and Prairies, 06 - South Texas Plains, 07 - Edwards Plateau, 08 - Rolling Plains, 09 - High Plains, 10 - Trans-Pecos
Distributions
Distribution refers to the ecological region in Texas that a plant has been found. You can also view a clickable map.
Book: Brush and Weeds of Texas Rangelands (B-6208)
Collection: Brush and Weeds, Wild Flowers
