POISON
WATER HEMLOCK
(Cicuta virosa)
cow bane, water parsnip, fool's parsley
Description:
A stout, erect, hollow stemmed, branching, perennial, 2-6 ft.
tall, from a thick root-stock. Lower leaves are large, long-stalked.
Upper leaves are divided into three leaflets and each again into
three. Small, white flowers spread to a flat-topped cluster similar
to Poison Hemlock. Roots, when cut lengthwise, reveal air cavities
separated by cross sections. Grows in swamps, marshes and along
ditches. Throughout U.S. to Alaska.
CAUTION:
Do not eat anything with leaves or blossoms resembling the poison
or water hemlock without positive identification.
Poisonous:
All parts are poisonous, especially the root. Nausea, salivation,
vomiting, diarrhea, and tremors, followed by extremely violent
seizures, respiratory failure, and cardiac arrest. Pupils dilated,
high temperature. Death can occur
Back | Home
| Next
