water hemlock

Cicuta maculata

Water hemlock is a plant that grows near water and has pretty white flowers. But be careful! It's one of the most poisonous plants in North America, so it's best to admire it from a distance.

Hábitat: Wetlands

Aspecto

The water hemlock has sturdy, hollow stems often mottled with purple streaks. Its leaves are bright green and divided into many smaller leaflets. Small white flowers form flat-topped, umbrella-like clusters at the top of the plant.

ReinoPlantaeFiloTracheophytaClaseMagnoliopsidaOrdenApialesFamiliaApiaceaeGéneroCicuta

water hemlock

Categoría

Plantas

Rareza

Rare

Peligro

5/5 · Extremo

Snaps

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Datos interesantes

Considered by many to be North America's most poisonous plant.

Its root looks similar to edible parsnips, making it extremely dangerous if confused.

Just a small piece of the root can cause severe seizures and death.

Livestock often suffer poisoning from grazing on this highly toxic plant.

Habilidades especiales

Water hemlock has cicutoxin, a deadly neurotoxin, which helps it defend against hungry herbivores.

Water hemlock can thrive in saturated soils, a special adaptation allowing it to grow where other plants can't.

Water hemlock stores potent poisons in its rootstock, ensuring a strong chemical defense is always available.

Medidas y detalles

Altura: 100-250 cm
Tamaño de la flor: 0.2-0.4 cm
Temporada de floración: Summer (July-September)
Comestible: No
Toxicidad: Deadly
Ciclo de vida: Perenne
Método de polinización: Insectos

Conexiones ecológicas

pollinates

honey bee

Apis mellifera

Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.

pollinates

common drone fly

Syrphus ribesii

Lays eggs near aphids, adult visits flowers.

eaten by

cattle

Bos taurus

Cattle can be poisoned by accidentally grazing on it.

eaten by

sheep

Ovis aries

Sheep are also susceptible to its powerful toxins.

Rasgos

Caducifolio

Las plantas caducifolias pierden periódicamente todas sus hojas, por lo general durante el otoño o las estaciones secas.

Floración

Las plantas con flores son cualquier planta que produce flores como parte de su ciclo reproductivo.

Flor en racimo

Las flores en racimo son inflorescencias donde las flores individuales están dispuestas muy juntas en un tallo común.

Flor fragante

Las flores fragantes emiten un aroma agradable, a menudo para atraer polinizadores o como defensa.

Humedal

Este rasgo de hábitat identifica especies que se encuentran en humedales, que son áreas de tierra saturadas de agua, ya sea permanente o estacionalmente, e incluyen marismas, pantanos y ciénagas.