# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 5/5 · Extreme - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![water hemlock](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cicuta_maculata.jpg&width=800) Photo: Williammehlhorn at English Wikipedia, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cicuta_maculata.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Apiales - **Family:** Apiaceae - **Genus:** Cicuta ## 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 - **Lethal Defense:** Water hemlock has cicutoxin, a deadly neurotoxin, which helps it defend against hungry herbivores. - **Wet Feet Master:** Water hemlock can thrive in saturated soils, a special adaptation allowing it to grow where other plants can't. - **Root Reservoir:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-drone-fly) (*Syrphus ribesii*) — Lays eggs near aphids, adult visits flowers. - **Eaten by:** [cattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattle) (*Bos taurus*) — Cattle can be poisoned by accidentally grazing on it. - **Eaten by:** [sheep](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sheep) (*Ovis aries*) — Sheep are also susceptible to its powerful toxins. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. - [Toxic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/toxic): Toxic organisms contain substances that are poisonous and can cause adverse effects upon exposure. - [Poisonous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/poisonous): Poisonous organisms produce toxins that can cause harm when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through contact. - [Venomous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/venomous): Venomous organisms produce toxins that are injected into another animal, typically through a bite or sting. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 5/5 · Extreme Never touch or eat any part of this plant, as it can be very harmful. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify water hemlock? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is water hemlock? 100-250 cm ### How big are the flowers on water hemlock? 0.2-0.4 cm ### When does water hemlock bloom? Summer (July-September) ### Is water hemlock edible? No ### Is water hemlock toxic? Deadly ### What is water hemlock's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is water hemlock pollinated? Insect ## Where to spot - [Charleston Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/charleston-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Ortega](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ortega) — Florida, US · Neighborhood - [Shaw Nature Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shaw-nature-reserve) — Missouri, US · Botanical Garden - [William Allen White Cabins](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/william-allen-white-cabins) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Naval Station Great Lakes](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naval-station-great-lakes) — Illinois, US · Campus [View all places to see water hemlock](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/water-hemlock) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Water Hemlock: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/water-hemlock)