Queen Anne’s Lace is a common wildflower found across meadows and roadsides. Also known as wild carrot, this widespread plant often raises safety concerns due to its resemblance to other species. Understanding its characteristics and distinguishing it from harmful look-alikes is important.
Understanding Queen Anne’s Lace
Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota) is a biennial herbaceous plant in the carrot family (Apiaceae). Commonly known as wild carrot, it grows one to four feet tall. It is often found in sunny, disturbed areas like fields, pastures, and roadsides.
Identifying features of Queen Anne’s Lace include its delicate, flat-topped clusters of tiny white flowers, called umbels, which can be two to five inches wide. A distinctive characteristic is often a single, small purple or dark red floret located in the center of the white flower cluster. The plant’s stems are typically hairy and green, and its leaves are alternate, feathery, and fern-like. As the flower clusters mature, they tend to curl inward, forming a shape resembling a bird’s nest.
Toxicity and Symptoms
Queen Anne’s Lace is not internally toxic in small amounts; its young root is even edible. However, the plant’s sap contains furanocoumarins, which can cause phytophotodermatitis. This reaction occurs when sap contacts the skin and is then exposed to sunlight.
Symptoms of phytophotodermatitis appear 24 to 48 hours after exposure, including redness, itching, and blistering. The lesions may be linear or streaked, reflecting how the sap was smeared. After initial inflammation subsides, the affected area can develop hyperpigmentation, causing the skin to darken for weeks, months, or even years. Reaction severity varies based on furanocoumarin concentration, sun exposure duration, and individual skin sensitivity.
Dangerous Look-Alikes
Misidentification poses the greatest risk when encountering plants resembling Queen Anne’s Lace, as several highly poisonous species exist. Two particularly dangerous look-alikes are Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum) and Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum). Both belong to the same plant family as Queen Anne’s Lace, the Apiaceae.
Poison Hemlock is a highly toxic plant that can be fatal if even small amounts are ingested. Unlike Queen Anne’s Lace, Poison Hemlock has smooth, hairless stems often marked with distinctive purple or reddish-brown blotches, particularly near the base. Its leaves are bright green, lacy, delicate, but hairless. Poison Hemlock can grow much taller, reaching six to ten feet. When crushed, the plant may emit an unpleasant, musty odor.
Ingesting Poison Hemlock can cause symptoms such as:
Sweating
Vomiting
Dilated pupils
Muscle weakness
Tremors
Seizures
Respiratory failure
Giant Hogweed is another large, toxic plant resembling Queen Anne’s Lace, but it is more dangerous. It can grow up to 15 feet tall, with large leaves spanning two to five feet. Its thick green stems have purple splotches and coarse white hairs, and its flower clusters can be up to 2.5 feet across. The sap of Giant Hogweed also contains furanocoumarins in much higher concentrations, leading to severe phytophotodermatitis with painful, burning blisters and potential scarring. Eye contact with the sap can cause irritation and even temporary or permanent blindness.
Safe Handling and Emergency Response
When encountering Queen Anne’s Lace, exercise caution to prevent skin reactions. If handling the plant, wear gloves and long sleeves to protect skin from sap contact. If sap contacts skin, wash the affected area immediately with soap and water. Avoiding sun exposure to contaminated skin can prevent or minimize phytophotodermatitis.
For any symptoms of phytophotodermatitis, such as redness, itching, or blistering, keep the area clean, avoid further sun exposure, and apply a cold compress or over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream for relief. If symptoms are severe, persistent, or if large blisters form, seek medical attention.
If you suspect contact with or ingestion of a highly toxic look-alike like Poison Hemlock or Giant Hogweed, seek immediate medical attention. For suspected ingestion, call emergency services or a poison control center promptly. Do not induce vomiting. If Giant Hogweed sap gets into the eyes, rinse them thoroughly and seek medical advice promptly. Providing details about the plant and symptoms can assist medical professionals.