Conium maculatum (Poison Hemlock)

Plant Info

Also known as:
Genus:	Conium
Family:	Apiaceae (Carrot)
Life cycle:	biennial
Origin:	Europe
Habitat:	sun; moist soil, along shores, fields, roadsides, disturbed soil
Bloom season:	summer
Plant height:	3 to 8 feet
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Long Lake Regional Park

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Detailed Information

Flower:

Flowers are in flat clusters (umbels) about 3 inches across. Individual flowers are about 1/8 inch across and have 5 white petals of unequal size, usually notched and folded lengthwise. There are 5 stamens with white to yellowish tips, 1 between each petal. One plant has many clusters, at the ends of branching stems. The stems persist through the winter.

Leaves and stem:

Leaves are 2 or 3 times compound, up to 12 inches long and wide, generally triangular in outline, becoming smaller as they ascend the stem. Leaflets are divided and fern-like, to 2 inches long and 1 inch wide.

The main stem is light green and covered in purple spots

Fruit:

Fruit is an egg-shaped pod, about 1/8 inch long, covered in wavy ribs. It splits into 2 seeds.

Notes:

All parts of Poison Hemlock are deadly poisonous. This plant is easy to distinguish from other members of the carrot family by the feathery, double compound leaves, and the purple spotted stem.

More photos

• Poison Hemlock plant, about 6 feet tall
• stems from the previous year 

Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN July 2007 and June-July 2008

Comments

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