photo fiddler@Flickr, from Nova Scotia in Canada, submitted today’s image (BPotD Flickr Pool | original image). If you get a chance, be sure to visit his Flickr page – quite an intriguing series of photographs! Thanks, photo fiddler!
Known commonly as Queen Anne’s lace or wild carrot, Daucus carota is the parent species of the modern-day cultivated carrot, though it is barely edible. A few sites suggest to not even attempt sampling it, because of the similarity between this species and other members of the Apiaceae (or parsley family), some of which are deadly poisonous. I’d agree with that recommendation.
The Center for New Crops and Plant Products at Purdue state the nativity of Daucus carota is unclear, but that it is probably native to western Asia or the Near East. It is now found throughout much of the world, including most of North America (where it is sometimes considered invasive). Given that the cultivated carrot can be grown in nearly every climate, it is not surprising that the wild species shows a similar ability.
By poisonious relative do you mean Pastinaca sativa? Wild Parsnip?
No, more along the lines of Conium maculatum, or poison hemlock.
This is a superb photo like all Fiddler’s photos in flickr.
It is an honour for him to have a photograph chosen by you people.