208 WILD FLOWER FAMILIES 



attract a great variety of flies and other insects 

 for the purpose of polhnation. 



The Wild Carrot is an excellent example of the 

 large Parsley family (Umbellifcrce) in which 

 many small flowers are held on rather short stems 

 that project from a common center. It is also 

 called the Carrot family. The cultivated carrot 

 has been developed from this wild species, which 

 is also called Bird's-nest and Queen Anne's Lace. 



Several weeds and poisonous plants also l)elong 

 to this Carrot family. Perhaps the most famous 

 of these is the Poison Hemlock, or Poison Pars- 

 ley. This is a wayside species growing sometimes 

 to a height of six feet, having many flat-topped 

 umbels of small white flowers, and finely cut 

 parsley-like leaves. It is a biennial and one of 

 the most poisonous of medicinal herbs. 



