This rarely-seen, multi-value plant grows hairy feathery foliage which is traditionally collected in Crete as a wild vegetable in the spring. The flowers have a delicate lace-like structure which is distinguished by the single sterile deep purple or black flower in the centre of the otherwise mostly white or sometimes rose flowered, flat or slightly curved umbel. When the seeds ripen in the early summer, the umbels curve strongly inwards to protect the loose ball of already detached seeds, producing a truly impressive and very beautiful structure like eggs in a nest. An old English popular name was appropriately, "The birds nest'. It is a spectacularly tall plant, often towering to more than 2 meters, the small seeds being slightly flattened with numerous bristles. You also have a wonderful source of natural medicine at your disposal as Dioscorides asserts that the best specimen forms for healthy use come from Crete and surrounding islands! ... Learn More