Handbook of Nature-Study 



Seed-cluster, or "bird's nest," of wild carrot. 

 Photo by Charles F. Fudge. 



LESSON CXLVIII 



QUEEN ANNE'S LACE, OR WILD CARROT 



Leading thought Queen Anne's lace is a weed which came to us from 

 Europe and flourishes better here than on its native soil. It has beautiful 

 blossoms set in clusters, and it matures many seeds which it manages to 

 plant successfully. 



Method The object of this lesson should be to show the pupils how 

 this weed survives the winter and how it is able to grow where it is not 

 wanted, maintaining itself successfully, despite man's enmity. The weed 

 is very common along most country roadsides, and in many pastures and 

 meadows. It blossoms very late in the autumn, and is available for les- 

 sons often as late as November. Its seed-clusters may be used for a lesson 

 at almost any time during the winter. 



Observations i. Look at a wild carrot plant; how are its blossoms 

 arranged? Take a flower-cluster, what is its shape? How many small 

 flower-clusters make the large one? How are these arranged to make the 

 large cluster symmetrical? 



2. Take one of the little flower-clusters from near the center, and one 

 from the outside, of the large cluster ; how many little flowers, or florets 

 make up the smaller cluster? Look at one of the florets through a lens; 



