Re: Are Carrots Period?

["H L. Falls" <hlf@holmes.acc.virginia.edu>]

Poster: "H L. Falls" <hlf@holmes.acc.virginia.edu>

 
> Poster: PETERSR@spiegel.becltd.com (Peters, Rise J.)
> 
> So if it has the little purple bit in the center it isn't poisonous hemlock 
> but edible QAL?
> 

   Well, actually...  QAL/wild carrot/wild parsnip is a biennial.  The
first year, it builds up food reserves in the root.  Then the second 
year it blooms and goes to seed.  By the time you can check the blossom,
the root is past it's best for eating.  Better to learn to recognize
the first-year plants by the leaves, in order to harvest the roots at
their best.  (And yes, the leaves of hemlock are distinctive when you 
see the two side-by-side! :-)

--Landi
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