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Daucus carota subsp. sativus (purple carrot)

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Daucus carota subsp. sativus (purple carrot)

Family Name: Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Infraspecific Epithet

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form Herbaceous Plant

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form Biennial herb up to 0.5 m tall.
Foliage The foliage is a rosette of 8-12 bipinnate leaves with toothed leaf margin.
Flowers The umbel inflorescence forms in the second year of the plant following a prolonged cold exposure, such as 6-8 weeks at 2-5 degrees Celsius. The inflorescence is composed of tight, round clusters of tiny, white flowers which together form an umbrella-like shape.
Fruit The small, dry fruit is known as a schizocarp and resembles a brownish seed .
Cultivation Carrots are a cool-season crop which are ideally grown at 20-25 degrees Celsius. Plants grown at high temperature may be less sweet and less colourful. They are best grown in a loose, deep, sandy soil under full sun. Apply mulch to moderate soil temperature and maintain soil moisture. The taproots can be harvested about 4 months after planting seed. 
Ethnobotanical Uses Edible Plant Parts : Edible Storage Organs
Food (Fruit or Vegetable): The edible taproot is rich in Vitamin A and anthocyanin, an antioxidant which removes harmful free radicals from the body. Compared to orange carrots, purple carrots may have up to 28 times more anthocyanin. 

Landscaping Features

Thematic Landscaping Economic Garden

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference Full Sun
Water Preference Moderate Water
Rootzone Tolerance Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils

Foliar

Mature Foliage Colour(s) Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s) Smooth, Glossy / Shiny
Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) Green
Young Flush Texture(s) Smooth, Glossy / Shiny
Foliar Type Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem Rosulate / Rosette
Foliar Attachment to Stem Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s) Non-Palm Foliage
Foliar Venation Recticulate
Foliar Margin Serrate / Toothed, Pinnately Lobed / Pinnatifid
Foliar Apex - Tip Acute
Foliar Base Truncate / Square

Floral (Angiosperm)

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

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s) Brown
Mature Fruit Texture(s) Wrinkled
Fruit Classification Simple Fruit
Fruit Type

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID 33657
Species ID 8071
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: 26 August 2021.
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