Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota)

Roadsides are covered now with these beautiful lacy flowers. They are a member of the Parsley family. They bloom April through July, sadly they are mown down before they peak out.
This plant is native to Europe and was Queen Anne's favorite flower. It was brought to North America by immigrants. It is very invasive and is a relative of the carrot.

The large flower head has a tiny dark reddish-purple flower in the center and this is what draws the insects to this plant.  (You have to look really closely to see  it. Black Swallowtails prefer this flower and lay their eggs on the leaves. Many other species are attracted to them as well.

Native Americans brewed tea from this plant as a wash to reduce swelling. Recent studies show cancer treatment qualities from the seeds and roots. A teaspoon of crushed seeds was also used for birth control. It's use for this purpose was first documented by Hippocrates over 2,000 years ago.

There is a legend of this plant: It was Queen Anne's favorite flower in her gardens. The legend says she was sewing lace and pricked her finger and a drop of blood fell upon the lace, symbolizing the dark reddish-purple tiny flower in center of flower head. (Double click on the picture and get a larger view to see this tiny flower.)

"And being in agony, HE prayed more earnestly: and HIS sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground."
Luke 22:44 KJV