Flower ID Please

[Tormentil]

Is this Wild Carrot - Daucus carota ?

[Gill Catton]

nope its
Yarrow Achillea millefolium
ummm the flowerhead in yarrow is smaller and less symmetrical or pretty and the individual flowers are bigger. The leaves although feathery like wild carrot are somehow more compact and a more similar width along the length of the flower

hope this helps

[juliejam]

Looks like Yarrow - Achillea millefolium

Julie

[Tormentil]

Thanks very much. These umbellifers (is that the right word?) always confuse me.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Tormentil

Thanks very much. These umbellifers (is that the right word?) always confuse me.

umm yes and no. next time you're out have a look at the underside of a yarrow flower head you'll see that the smaller flower-heads come from stalks coming out a different points on the stem (which makes it a corymb type flowerhead) the umbellifers all have in commmon that the smaller flowerheads all come from the same point on the stem like the spokes in an umbrella (an umbell type flowerhead)


hope this helps more than it confuses

[ceterach]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

umm yes and no. next time you're out have a look at the underside of a yarrow flower head you'll see that the smaller flower-heads come from stalks coming out a different points on the stem (which makes it a corymb type flowerhead) the umbellifers all have in commmon that the smaller flowerheads all come from the same point on the stem like the spokes in an umbrella (an umbell type flowerhead)

The really important thing is that Yarrow is a Composite (member of the Asteracaea). What at first glance looks like a four-petalled flower is in fact about 8-10 very small flowers (florets). The four outer ones that look like petals are called ray florets and the six or so inner ones are called disc florets. So each "flower" can be said to be a separate inflorescence.

In Yarrow it so happens the two types of florets are the same colour, in Common Daisy for example they are different colours.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by ceterach

The really important thing is that Yarrow is a Composite (member of the Asteracaea). What at first glance looks like a four-petalled flower is in fact about 8-10 very small flowers (florets). The four outer ones that look like petals are called ray florets and the six or so inner ones are called disc florets. So each "flower" can be said to be a separate inflorescence.

In Yarrow it so happens the two types of florets are the same colour, in Commons Daisy for example they are different colours.

Yes I know this, I was trying to explain in a simple way, why it wasn't an umbellifer and what made it click in my head when I was first learning

[ceterach]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Yes I know this, I was trying to explain in a simple way, why it wasn't an umbellifer and what made it click in my head when I was first learning

Hi Gill
I must admit I did have a sharp intake of breath I can't however agree with "dumbing down that far", it is a fundamental difference between composites (together with a few other families ) and other plant families that their flowers are arranged in heads and it is the heads that are often regarded as flowers, a big difference.

Besides it also loses part of the interest of plants. I almost contributed to an earlier thread regarding Galinsoga species. Almost single-handedly it was this genus that got me interested in botany when it was pointed out to me that the similarity in appearance of one of the most primitive and early flowering plants, buttercup, and one of the most recent, "Galinsoga" but with an enormous difference in structure could be attributed to parallel evolution. I've spent the next 45 years fascinated by the things.

Sorry to be pedantic!

All the best

[Tormentil]

Thanks once again Gill & ceterach.

Did a little google for a "corymb type flowerhead" and found this:-

Inflorescences

I now know what you mean, but will still do as you suggest Gill and have a decko at the underside of these type plants.

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by ceterach

I can't however agree with "dumbing down that far",

Some of us need to be "dumbed down" to; and don't mind at all 'cause it does help us understand and its a start to more learned knowledge.
Ben