Hemlock

Description

“Pet poisonous” – Toxic parts: leaves, stem, fruit Conium (/koʊˈnaɪ.əm/ or /ˈkoʊniəm/) is a genus of flowering plants in the carrot family Apiaceae which consists of four species accepted by The Plant List. One species, C. maculatum, also called hemlock, which is highly poisonous, is native to temperate regions of Europe, North Africa and Western Asia, while the other three are from southern Africa Unlike the lupines, locoweeds, etc., multiple Conium species are few worldwide, and only one species, C. maculatum, is described in the United States. Conium maculatum is a biennial plant 1–2.5 m tall (Figure 61.6). The stems are stout, rigid, smooth, and hollow except at the nodes. A distinguishing characteristic of the plant is the purple spots found up and down the main stem and a single carrot-like taproot. The leaves are large, triangular, fern-like, and alternate on the erect stem. The stem grows the second year from a rosette and taproot established from seed. Frequently, seeds will germinate in the fall before winter and then complete their reproductive cycle the following year. The flowers are small, white or cream colored, and in umbellate clusters. The fruits are grayish brown with conspicuous wavy, knotted ridges. The plant has a fleshy, usually unbranched, white taproot that looks like parsnips. Roots have been mistaken for parsnip, seeds for anise, and leaves for parsley.