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.