Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum): white Minnesota wildflowers

Poison Hemlock

Plant Info
Also known as:
Scientific name:	Conium maculatum
Family:	Carrot (Apiaceae)
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

Pick an image for a larger view. Most image enlargements are 50-100KB, though some may be larger. See the glossary for icon descriptions.

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 stamen 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.