A couple cool things I learned recently

[xiphias]

From Harold McGee's book . . .

I knew that Queen Anne's Lace was a wild relative of the carrot, and which has a root which is edible and carrot-like.

What I didn't know was that it wasn't a precursor of the carrot -- but rather an escaped cultivar. It's a descendant of the carrot -- not an ancestor.

Also, the raspberry is actually a stone fruit. Well, actually, a big clump of lots of tiny little stone fruits all stuck together.

Also also, our raspberry bushes are now fruiting and yummy.

Comments

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

The wikipedia article for Queen Anne's lace says that it bears a strong resemblance to water hemlock, which is deadly. Just in case anyone's motivated to go gathering wild vegetables, or something. The root is also only edible when very young, and it turns woody fairly early on in the plant's life. And it's an abortifacient, documented by Hippocrates! Fun stuff.

[tylik.livejournal.com]

In general, the carrot family is one to know well before consuming. But there are no few interesting and tasty members.

[jehanna.livejournal.com]

What I didn't know was that it wasn't a precursor of the carrot -- but rather an escaped cultivar. It's a descendant of the carrot -- not an ancestor.

! You're kidding. My LaRousse Gastronomique says nothing about this.

So, what was the ur-carrot? Does it exist anymore?

[vito-excalibur.livejournal.com]

I know some families like that!

[vito-excalibur.livejournal.com]

Whoa, feral carrots! That is cool.

[dancing-kiralee.livejournal.com]

What's a stone fruit?

Kiralee

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Examples would be peaches, plums, nectarines, and so forth. Fruits that have one big seed in the middle.

[tylik.livejournal.com]

I could imagine mine being described like that - some members toxic, some tasty! (Opinions vary on which is which.)

You could visit the Carrot Museum for some answers!

[dakiwiboid.livejournal.com]

They claim that Daucus carota IS the ur-carrot, however there could be room for doubt. The page has the best assemblage of carrot history I've ever seen, and some nifty pictures of black/purple carrots, plus historic recipes.

Re: You could visit the Carrot Museum for some answers!

[jehanna.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this! Should be entertaining.