How to Get Seeds From Queen Anne's Lace Plants
Queen Anne's lace is the plant that our current garden carrots were originally cultivated from. The seeds of Queen Anne's lace have appeared in works as a natural contraceptive as early as Hippocrates in 5th century B.C. Today, Queen Anne's lace is largely considered an invasive weed. It is common in most yards, ditches and open areas. The name derives from the myth of Queen Anne of England pricking her finger while sewing lace. Thus, the name describes the dark reddish purple center of the flower surrounded by lacy white flowers to represent a drop of blood on lace. You can gather the seeds in the fall for medicinal use or to start your own garden of Queen Anne's lace. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Queen Anne's lace plant
- Rubber gloves
- Paper bag
- Bowl
- Towel
- Paper towels
- Glass jar
Instructions
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Identify the Queen Anne's lace plants that you want to get your seeds from. Queen Anne's lace looks very similar to poisonous plants like water hemlock, so it's important to identify your plants correctly. The flower of Queen Anne's lace has a dark purplish flower in the center. The root of Queen Anne's lace smells like carrots, and the stem and leaves are hairy.
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Watch the flower heads throughout the early fall. The flowers will begin to curl and form a seed head. Wait until the seed head dries on the plant to begin harvesting.
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3
Put on rubber gloves to prevent any skin irritations from the plant while harvesting. Cut your flowers about 3 to 4 inches below the flower head.
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Place a paper bag under the seed head, and gently rub the top with your fingers to release the seeds. The seeds look very similar to garden carrot seeds.
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Rinse your seeds under running water in a bowl. Drain the water completely from the seeds. Pat them dry with a towel. Lay them on a paper towel in a sunny location to dry for about one week.
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Put your dried seeds in a glass jar. You can store them in a cool, dark location or in your freezer for later use.
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