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Carrot Information
Did you'll know carrot tops were toxic? I guess it's one of those things that some people could be allergic to. I don't think it should be called toxic. I guess Milk is toxic too by those standards. But no one calls it toxic. Best Regards, Robert Ratliff
PSORALENS SYNONYMS/COMMON NAMES: DAUCUS CAROTA VAR. SATIVUS; CARROT FAMILY: UMBELLIFERAE THERE ARE ABOUT 25 SPECIES OF DAUCUS, ALL ARE CONSIDERED TO HAVE THE SAME DERMATITIS CAUSING PROPERTIES.
DESCRIPTION: DAUCUS CAROTA VAR. SATIVUS IS A BIENNIAL, HERBACEOUS PLANT THAT MAY REACH 3 FEET TALL. THERE ARE MANY CULTIVATED VARIETIES AND CULTIVARS, BUT THE OVERALL DESCRIPTION IS BASICALLY THE SAME. ROOT IS FLESHY-THICKENED; LONG (TAPROOT) AND NARROW; ORANGE IN COLOR.
LEAVES: PINNATELY COMPOUND, CUT INTO MANY NARROW SEGMENTS.
FLOWERS: BORNE IN FLAT TOPPED CLUSTERS AT THE TOP OF THE PLANT. EACH FLOWER IS SMALL, WHITE TO PINK OR ROSE-PURPLE IN COLOR.
FRUIT: SMALL CAPSULE-LIKE; BORNE IN CLUSTERS; BECOME BURRLIKE AT MATURITY; EACH ABOUT 1/8 INCH LONG.
DISTRIBUTION: NATIVE OF EURASIA. INTRODUCED AS A WEED IN ALL PARTS OF NORTH AMERICA. THIS IS THE WELL-KNOWN GARDEN CARROT.
TOXICITY: TOXIC PRINCIPLE: SPECIFICALLY UNKNOWN, POSSIBLY PSORALENS. THE LEAVES CAUSE CONTACT DERMATITIS IN HYPERSENSITIVE INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE LEAVES ARE WET. URTICARIA AND RHINOCONJUNCTIVITIS, IGE - MEDIATED HAS BEEN REPORTED AFTER CONTACT WITH CARROTS.
REFERENCES: KLAUDER JV & KIMMICH: SENSITIZATION DERMATITIS TO CARROTS. ARCH DERM 1956; 74:149-158.