Wild Umbrellas (more wild flower photography!)

three common wild umbellifers in the country lanes of south devon..

Umbellifers are a diverse wildflower family (celery and carrots included), and at the moment there are many in flower in the countryside. Three that are commonly come across and worth learning the difference of are Hemlock Water Dropwort, Hogweed and Cow Parsley... they are all white, but the first has distinctly separated heads and grows near water, the second is much stouter and taller with notched petals, and the last has delicately cut leaves (the one you see down the country lanes). Importantly the first is VERY poisonous. Not included here are Fennel, Carrot, Angelica, Chervil and Dill... all are excellent for the bees!