Water Hemlock

Plant Info

Also known as:	Spotted Water Hemlock, Spotted Cowbane
Scientific name:	Cicuta maculata
Family:	Carrot (Apiaceae)
Life cycle:	perennial, biennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	sun to part shade; along shores, wet fields, moist thickets, wet ditches
Bloom season:	summer
Plant height:	3 to 6 feet
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Long Lake Regional Park

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Detailed Information

Flower:

Flat compound clusters up to 6 inches across of 1/8-inch white flowers. Individual flowers have 5 petals, notched at the tip, and 5 long stamen. Flowers usually arise from a stalk in groups of 12-15, with 10 or more groups (“umbels”) in a cluster.

Leaves and stem:

Double compound leaves may be well over a foot long in the lower part of the plant and much smaller at the top; each compound leaf has 3 or more leaflets. Leaflets are up to 4 inches long and 1¼ inches across with pointed tips and are sharply toothed. Leaflets often fold up some from the central vein. A distinguishing feature of the leaves is the veins radiating from the central vein tend to terminate in the notch of the teeth instead of the tip. The stem may be green or purple, or have purple streaks or spots.

Notes:

This plant is very poisonous.

More photos

• a patch of Water Hemlock near the shore of the lake

All photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN July 2006

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Ramsey County, or have any other comments about it?

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Please: Do not ask about where to buy seed or other gardening questions, are plants edible, etc. I am not a horticulturist or botanist, just an enthusiastic hobbyist so I probably don't know the answer. Please check the links page for additional resources. -thanks much

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