Boy, Mary, I can tell you have been going round and round pondering this. They are all good questions, but right off the bat, I don't know the answers.

I did however find this on line at another forum.

Carrots are bi-annual - they grow in the first year, go dormant over winter and then flower the following late spring. The flowers look like cow parsley or cuminor coriander. They will cross with Queens Anne's Lace, so if you have any nearby, you need to isolate them. The seeds follow the flowers.

I don't plan on planting this kind of carrot again (kinda bland in my view), but I was wondering if these seeds are viable.
Well, in looking on line, it looks like they are 'not' hybrids. I see they are described as lemon-yellow roots have sweet,bright yellow flesh. Good for a summer to fall crop,arge 8" roots & strong tops. Yellow carrots are crunchy & full of juice.
Another place describes them as Bright, intense yellow roots with large shoulders that taper down. They are nice, juicy and crunchy with a distinctive sweet taste. different from orange carrots. Fine for any raw carrot use and superb for cooking. We have found Amarillo to be one of the finest stewing and roasting carrots we have grown. It keeps a nice carrot taste yet nicely picks up the flavor of your broth or spices. Makes great carrot juice and freezes well. Can withstand dry conditions. They sound like a wonderful carrot. Did you buy the seed originally, or maybe trade for it?

I know you are supposed to save seeds from at least 6 root type crops for genetic diversity.
I had never heard that, but won't dispute it.

Ok...also found this, It is hardy to zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Flies, beetles. The plant is self-fertile.
Here

Does my question make any sense?
Oh, yes.

I talk in circles sometimes.
I think I answered you in circles also. Where's that Remy girl? She always knows all about this sort of thing.

Sue

wow, you really looked into this. thanks.

My seeds were purchased from baker creek. Yes indeed they are drought tolerant. Maybe the lack of flavor has to due with my soil type and our dry horrible Texas soil.

I planted rutabagas this past fall and they tasted fine. And it was drier than dry this fall.

I wonder if Amarillo yellow has been bred to not bolt or if they do very late. I mean to have them bolt one year after a fall planting?

I liked them cooked better than raw. I also find yellow beets lacking in flavor. I guess the darker color gives them character.

from this site I read
http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/seeds.html

If you want to maintain a carrot variety effectively, you really need to save seed from at least 40 good roots to maintain good genetic diversity. If you have too small a genetic pool, you will end up with small, poor quality roots in a very few generations.

Rather than tossing those yellow carrot and celeriac seeds, please donate them to Need4Seed. I bet both types of seed will be viable, and will produce food. That is the main goal of seeds sent to Need4Seed- to help feed hungry, low-income families.

If you want the address to mail seed donations in to Need4Seed, email me and I'll give it to you. :)

Please send me that need 4 seed address

I don't trade much anymore but often have extra seed and would love to have them so to someone the truely needs them

Mary