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Daucus carota subsp. sativus

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Daucus carota subsp. sativus

Family Name: Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)
Synonyms: Daucus carota var. sativus
Common Name: Carrot, 胡萝卜

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Infraspecific Epithet
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form Herbaceous Plant
Lifespan (in Singapore) Biennial, Annual
Mode of Nutrition Autotrophic

Biogeography

Native Distribution Of cultivated origin
Native Habitat Terrestrial (Agricultural Land)
Preferred Climate Zone Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal
Local Conservation Status Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only)

Description and Ethnobotany

Roots Taproot thickened, fleshy, straight, conical to cylindrical, orange(most common).
Foliage 8-12, growing in a rosette with long petiole, leaf blade 2-3 pinnate, the segments divided into often linear ultimate lobe
Flowers The flowering stalks few to several, , branched, each branch ending in a compound umbel; each umbel comprising 50 or more umbellets, each of which has up to 50 flowers; flowers mainly bisexual in primary umbels, in umbels of higher order an increasing number of male flowers may occur in addition to bisexual flowers.
Fruit Oblong-ovoid schizocarps, 2-4mm long, at maturity splitting into 2 mericarps, primary ridges ciliate, secondary ridges with hooked spines.
Ethnobotanical Uses Edible Plant Parts : Edible Leaves, Edible Roots, Edible Storage Organs
Food (Fruit or Vegetable): The roots are consumed raw or cooked, alone or in combination with other vegetable, as an ingredient of soups sauces and in dietary compositions. Young leaves are edible as a leaf vegetable, but are rarely eaten by humans.
Medicinal: Carrots are rich in carotenes, some compounds that the liver transforms into vitamin A, which guarantees the good health of the vision by forming a purple pigment that the eye needs in order to be able to see in dim light. Thus people who suffer from night blindness would benefit from the use of carrots on a regular basis.  Carrots can also externally be used to cure skin problems such as eczema, wounds, burns or sunburns. Others medicinal uses include Tonsillitis, colitis, appendicitis, anemia, gravel, blood poisoning, ulcers, rheumatism, indigestion, poor teeth, acne, cancer, etc.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features Ornamental Foliage
Landscape Uses Parks & Gardens, Container Planting
Thematic Landscaping Economic Garden

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference Full Sun
Water Preference Moderate Water
Rootzone Tolerance Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils
Propagation Method Seed
Propagation Method Remarks Carrot Top Propagation: Cutting the existing carrot top with their greens attached to the top.

Foliar

Foliage Retention Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s) Green
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem Rosulate / Rosette
Foliar Attachment to Stem Petiolate
Foliar Margin Pinnately Lobed / Pinnatifid

Non - Foliar and Storage

Root Type Underground (Tap Root)
Specialised Storage Organ(s) Underground (Swollen Taproot)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower Colour(s) White
Flower Grouping Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location Terminal
Inflorescence Type Compound Umbel

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID 31526
Species ID 5923
Flora Disclaimer The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.
Species record last updated on: 23 February 2022.
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