[G4] Apple System preferences question

[keith_w]

When I access System Preferences under the finder's Apple menu, and select the 
following:

Keyboard & Mouse/
Keyboard Shortcuts/
Keyboard navigation

This category shows several F-key shortcuts, which are listed as:

^F1
^F2
^F3,  etc.

It seems obvious that the carat before the F-key indicates some key press, but 
there's no legend that tells me what it is.

Please advise.

Thanks,  keith whaley