Poison Hemlock
- Most poisonous North American plant
- In the parsley family
- Killed Socrates
- Contains alkaloids that cause paralysis
TOXIC PLANT
All animals may be affected. Grazing animals, swine and animals that may eat the seeds (especially poultry) are more at risk than pets. All parts of the plant are considered toxic, especially the young leaves, stems and seeds. Symptoms include nervousness, trembling, incoordination, depression, coma, death and birth defects. Poison hemlock’s toxic components include the volatile alkaloids coniine and gamma-coniceine, which are believed to have put Socrates to death. A lethal dose for a horse is reported to be 4 to 5 pounds of leaves, while cattle may be poisoned with 1 to 2 pounds and sheep with a half-pound or less. Humans have been poisoned by mistaking the roots of poison hemlock for parsnips, the leaves for parsley, or the seeds for anise.
Vegetative plants
Key characteristics: hairless and purple-spotted, hollow stems. Leaves are pinnately compound,
arranged alternately and hairless.
Flowers
Key characteristics: white and produced in compound umbels.
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