What does cicuta maculata look like?

Cicuta maculata is a rhizomatous perennial herb producing a hollow erect stem to a maximum height between 1 and 1.5 metres (3 ft 3 in and 4 ft 11 in). The long leaves are made up of several lance-shaped, pointed, serrated leaflets.

What does poison water hemlock look like?

Water hemlock has small, white flowers that grow in umbrella like clusters. Side veins of the leaves lead to notches, not to tips at the outer margin. The thick rootstalk of water hemlock contains a number of small chambers.

How do I identify my water hemlock?

Identifying Water Hemlock. Description: A perennial plant that grows to a height of 3 to 7 feet tall. The leaves are up to 15 inches long, alternately-arranged, and tri-pinnately-compound with numerous 2 to 5 inch ovate leaflets. They are also sharply toothed.

What do water hemlock leaves look like?

Leaves. The leaves of poison hemlock look very similar to parsley, chervil, and wild carrot (Queen Anne’s lace), which makes them difficult to distinguish. They are opposite and compound, hairless, lacy, and triangular in shape.

How can you tell the difference between elderberry and water hemlock?

The quickest way to distinguish poison hemlock from elderberry is to look at the stems and stalks. They are very tall (up to 10′ feet), hollow, hairless, and have telltale purplish-red streaks. Next, check the leaves. Elderberry leaves branch off exactly opposite each other.

What happens if you touch a water hemlock?

The alkaloids can affect nerve impulse transmission to your muscles, eventually killing you through respiratory failure. Even touching this plant may cause a skin reaction in some people. To date, there is no antidote. The leaves are particularly poisonous in the spring, up until it produces flowers.

What is the difference between water hemlock and poison hemlock?

Poison hemlock is a much larger plant than wild carrot. Water hemlock has a spotted stem like poison hemlock, but is a perennial that produces a cluster of fleshy tubers at crown, and the leaflets are not finely divided like poison hemlock.

Is poison hemlock the same as water hemlock?

Why does hemlock make you smile?

Phytochemical analysis of Oenanthe crocata, or hemlock water-dropwort, a perennial that thrives near Sardinian ponds and rivers, revealed that toxic alcohols in the plant can cause facial muscles to contract, sometimes contorting into a sinister smile.