Water Hemlock
Cicuta maculata L.
Apiaceae (Carrot Family)
▲▼ mature, flowering plants
▲▼ mature, flowering plants
first year rosette leaves ▲▼
▲ mature leaf
purple stem ▲
flowers ▲▼
▲▼ flowers fading, starting to form fruit
Cicuta maculata
L.; Spotted Waterhemlock:
(Bayer Code:
CIUMC; US Code CIMA2)
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Herbaceous biennial in the Carrot family
·
First
produces a rosette of pinnately-divided leaves
·
Stems are also green/purplish, with striping and spots, like
poison hemlock
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Stems/plant/oil smells like parsley, but they are very toxic to humans and
grazing animals—possibly the most poisonous plant in the U.S.
·
Inside base of stem are hollow chambers that contain a yellow oil that is very
poisonous
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Inflorescences are similar to poison hemlock, growing 1.5 to 8 feet tall
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Umbels a bit “tighter” than poison hemlock umbels
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Found
in pastures, roadsides, non-crop areas, often preferring moist fertile soils,
such as ditches, streambanks