Summer Shoreline, Part 3 - Queen Anne's Lace

Queen Anne's Lace, possibly originating in Afghanistan, naturalized across Europe and subsequently colonial North America. It beautifies inhospitable locations although its self-sowing prowess is not so welcome in agricultural fields.

The disc-shaped inflorescence is an umbel of myriad tiny white florets that form a constellation around a single mysterious ruby-colored central flower.

As seeds develop, the umbel curls protectively into a bird's nest shape that has its own appeal to collectors of dried-flower material.

...with cow vetch, Vicia cracca

Besides their exuberant pattern the white flowers combine pleasurably with others, to our eyes, at least.



...with Elliott's goldenrod, Solidago latissimifolia

Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota) is a member of the parsnip family and a subspecies of the cultivated carrot. A biennial, it flowers, sets seeds, and dies in its second year. While very young in its first year the roots are edible.


...with groundnut, Apios americana

At one place on the moors of Halibut Point Queen Anne's Lace grows next to another plant whose underground tubers were traditionally gathered as food, as indicated in the folk names Groundnut, Wild Potato, and Indian Potato.

...with staghorn sumac, Rhus hirta

Queen Anne's Lace seems born to ornament every place where it takes root.

...a roadside near Halibut Point State Park