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.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

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.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderApialesFamilyApiaceaeGenusCicuta

water hemlock

Interesting facts

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.

Special abilities

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.

Measurements & details

Height: 100-250 cm
Flower Size: 0.2-0.4 cm
Bloom Season: Summer (July-September)
Edible: No
Toxicity: Deadly
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

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.

Traits

Deciduous

Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Cluster Flower

Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem.

Fragrant Flower

Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.