Deadly poisonous plant - intermediate identification Season - spring to autumn Common names Hemlock, poison hemlock, English hemlock, spotted corobane, Devil's parsley, poison parsley, Devil's bread, spotted hemlock, carrot fern
Scientific name meaning: Conium is derived from the Greek Konas, meaning to whirl about. This is a reference to the dizzying effects of the plants toxins. Maculatum is from the Latin Maculatus, which means to make or be spotted or speckled. The species name is in regards to the purple spots often found on the stems
Habitat  Hemlock prefers a moist environment, but can be found on drier soils. It is common on roadsides, in ditches and on disturbed ground. |
Overall structure  Hemlock is a large plant that can reach up to 2.5m tall. It has a bushy growth habit, particularly at its base thanks to its large bipinnate leaves. The entire plant is hairless. |
Leaves  The leaves are slightly shiny, dark-green and bipinnate (2-4 times). This gives them a roughly triangular overall shape and a feathery appearance. They are hairless. The leaf stems are cylindrical and hollow and often have purple/red spots/streaks on them. When crushed, they have a foul odour resembling mouse urine. |
Stem  The flower stem can reach 2.5m tall. It is cylindrical, hairless and often has purple/red spots/streaks. When crushed, it has a foul odour resembling mouse urine. |
Flowers  The white five-petalled flowers appear on compound umbels and have bracts and bracteoles. They have a heavy, musty foul smell. |
Seeds  The roughly spherical seeds are deeply ridged with the two styles present at the top. They are 2-4mm in diameter and start off green aging to dark brown. |
Roots  The tapered tap root is white and resembles a domestic parsnip. |
Possible lookalikes  Looks like other carrot family members. This is why plants like wild carrot and cow parsley are best left to advanced foragers. But, among other ID points, smell and being hairy differentiates them from hemlock. It is often confused with rough chervil (Chaerophyllum temulum), pictured, another carrot family member with spots. Rough chervil is hairy while hemlock is not. |
Poisonous parts All parts of the plant contain poisonous alkaloids, such as coniine and gamma-coniceine, that can be fatal. The whole plants is poisonous with highest concentrations of toxins in the roots and seeds. Poisoning symptoms include paralysis, loss of sensation, rhabdomyolysis, acute tubular necrosis, renal failure and death Use in herbal medicine and medicine Despite its deadly toxicity, hemlock has been used to treat respiratory disorders, pain, and strychnine poisoning
This plant is a deadly poisonous - do not consume
If you are suffering from any ailment or need medical advice, please see your General Practitioner.
Hazards All parts of this plants are deadly poisonous
Other uses Historically, it was used as a method of execution Importance to other species The larvae of the silver ground carpet moth and poison hemlock moth both consume hemlock leaves
Always stay safe when foraging. You need to be 100% sure of your identification, 100% sure that your foraged item is edible, and 100% sure that you are not allergic to it (it is good practice to always try a small amount of any new food you are consuming). If in doubt, leave it out!
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