Umbelliferae id please..

[JonnyP]

Came across this umbellifer today and it has me stumped. Does anyone recognise it or have a clue ...? It was growing in cornwall on a cliff top next to the sea, so it could be stunted..

 

[familne]

It's wild carrot (Daucus carota)

 

[JonnyP]

It's wild carrot (Daucus carota)

What, this time of year..?
When I first saw it I did think wild carrot. I am pretty familiar with wild carrot as you can see here http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23398
I just instantly dismissed it because of the time of year and I could not see any central purple flower on any flower head, but then they don't appear straight away, do they...
Wow, I know plants are early here in cornwall, I just didn't think this early...
Thanks Familne..

 

[familne]

Yes, it does seem amazingly early to be flowering, but it's the only umbellifer with such distinctive bracts. It's very early for any umbellifer to be flowering so maybe it's a cultivar which has been planted?

 

[JonnyP]

Yes, it does seem amazingly early to be flowering, but it's the only umbellifer with such distinctive bracts. It's very early for any umbellifer to be flowering so maybe it's a cultivar which has been planted?

Possibly planted..But I wouldn't of thought so on a coast path, but who knows..?
There are many umbellifers out in flower here though. Alexanders have been out for a few weeks now and some the hogweed has been out in flower all winter and I saw cow parsley out today too, but that should be out early anyway... Hemlock water dropwort is showing well but not in flower..