This naturalized biennial was introduced from Europe. In the first year it exists as a rosette of carrot-like leaves. The second year an erect plant grows to 4 feet tall. It has carrot-like compound leaves at the base. Sparse widely spaced upper leaves, also compound, are quite finely divided and have a feathery appearance. Long leafless flower stalks carry flat-topped clusters (compound umbels) of white (A,B,C), sometimes pink (D,E) flowers, often with a dark red or purple central flower (A,B). Directly beneath the flower cluster are many distinctive long  narrow, often forked, bracts (F).  When mature, the flower cluster curls inward enclosing the spiny, ridged seeds (G) ultimately forming a structure resembling a bird’s nest (H).