Nearctica - Eastern Wildflowers - Apiaceae - Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata)

Water Hemlock

(Cicuta maculata)

Color Photograph: Copyright Nearctica.com, Inc.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

Dacus carota

Water Hemlock may be separated from Queen Anne's Lace by the regular, rather than fernlike, leaves. Queen Anne's Lacke has tridentate-shaped bracts missing in Water Hamlock.

Berula erecta

Bracts present at the base of the umbel.

Sium suave

Brachts present at the base of the umbel.

Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata)

Identification: Flowers white, in a loose umbel. Umbel lacking basal bracts. Stem smooth, streaked with purple. Leaves 2 or 3 times compound, toothed, sometimes tinged with red. Leaves not fernlike or feathery. Plant 3 to 6 feet in height.

Distribution: Throughout North America.

Habitat: Watern Hemlock is found in swamps, wet meadows, and along the shores of lakes and rivers.

Flowering period: June to September.

Note: Water Hemlock is an extremely poisonous plant.

Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata)

Similar Species:

Queen Anne's Lace (Dacus carota)

Cut-leaf Water Parsnip (Berula erecta)

Hemock Water Parsnip (Sium suave)

Similar Species