Queen Anne's Lace

After showing my vacation pictures to Stacy, Jordan and Prof. M. at the reunion yesterday, I got to wondering about this one in particular. Prof. M. asked what the flower is called. It's most often called "Queen Anne's Lace" in the US, although it's also called "wild carrot," and she said that they have them in Greece as well. (I forgot to ask you: What are they called in Greece, Professor?) I thought about it later, wondering why they're called "Queen Anne's Lace." So I looked it up... Supposedly, it's after Queen Anne (Anne of Denmark), wife of James I of England. There are several legends about why that is, none of which have been concretely legitimized in fact. The most popular one seems to be some variation of this: While making lace meant to imitate the flower, Queen Anne pricked her finger with a needle and stained the lace with a drop of blood. The flower has one violet-red floret at the center, you see... which to me calls that whole legend into question even more 'cause really, what are the odds...? Whatever the reason, the name has stuck.

But in my research I found out something else that's pretty interesting about this plant, and it connects this whole thing if not to Latin then to Roman history and culture at least, so I'll share...

The following is copied from an herb supplier's website:

"Queen Anne’s Lace
Daucus carota
Family: Apiaceae
Biennial. Native to temperate zones worldwide. The wild carrot is more strongly endowed with the wholesomely odoriferous and stimulating essential oils than is the domesticated carrot. These have pronounced carminative (gas-relieving) effect. The whole herb may be collected and dried for tea. The seeds themselves may be taken internally as a birth control measure. I have heard this works pretty well, but wouldn’t rely on it alone to prohibit conception. Queen Anne’s Lace is the closest living relative (on the basis of family and medicinal activity) to the Silphion, which was picked and used by the Romans as a culinary spice and contraceptive until it became extinct in the first century AD. Supposedly Nero was given the last remaining root. He should have planted it back in. Note: Although Queen Anne’s Lace seed is not toxic, Conium maculatum (Hemlock) seed which can readily be confused with Daucus carota is indeed very seriously toxic. Know and trust your supplier, or grow your own! Cultivation: Easy. Direct seed during mild weather in early spring. Thin seedlings to 3 inches apart. Flowers to 4 feet in the second year. Not for sale to WA state."

The flower heads at peak bloom can also be used as a natural dyestuff (you can see a picture of wool dyed with it here), producing a yellowish-green or greenish-yellow color on most natural fibers. I myself have tried to cultivate it for this purpose because that's the sort of thing I like to do, grow plants historically used for dye to make historically accurate reenacting accessories, like my shawls... But unfortunately, Queen Anne's Lace will not grow in this part of Florida. Our summers are far too hot to allow it to complete its life-cycle. Ah, well...


~Rachael