Wild Carrots?

[Steve]

Do we have wild carrots in NI?

The Ray Mears survival handbook shows wild carrot, but all I can find is hogweed and other similar poisonous plants.

[Wolf_Larson]

mmmhhh not sure maybe a framers field, only kidding as you might get shot in the bum 

[Celt_Ginger]

Yes we do indeed have wild carrott in NI.

[Wolf_Larson]

Where can we find them ??

[Celt_Ginger]

They grow all over the place. There are a number of different species that look like them though. Just be sure you can ID them correctly as they are all members of the carrot family and some (like Hemlock) can be deadly.

[Mouldsy]

I have to agree wth C.G on this make sure you get a 200% I.d on these plants as for everyone that is edible there is another one nearly identical that is deadly, e.g Cow Parsley- Hemlock.

[Steve]

Thanks guys, I've been on the lookout for them but so far can only find the toxic varieties.

I don't want to try eating any of them until I find one with the purple flower mentioned in the Ray Mears book.

[Mouldsy]

I am nearly sure they have a white flower mate, and wild parsnip have a yellow flower.

[Steve]

You're right, it is a white flower, but

The ray mears book says this

'Although care must be taken identifying this species, this plant has a convenient way of identifying itself since in the centre of its white flower head is a single purple flower.'

I was talking about the single purple flower in the centre because a lot of toxic plants have a similar white flower