Apiaceae

Conium maculatum

Poison-Hemlock

Taproot white. Stems erect, streaked or spotted purple. Petioles enlarged and sheathing at base. Leaf blades 8–12 in. long, pinnately divided, fern-like. Numerous white flowers form compact clusters within umbels. Smells musty when crushed. Introduced from Europe, found mostly below 3000 ft. in marshes, ditches, along beaches, other wet places. So toxic even a tiny amount of sap, leaf, or seed can cause severe sickness if eaten. Always watch children when visiting wet places where this plant is rampant. Maculatum means "marked" or "spotted."

• Rarity: Common
• Flowering Time: Early Summer
• Life Cycle: Biennial
• Height: 6--8 feet
• Habitat: Coastal, Meadow, Disturbed
• Found In: Olympic Np, Mt. Rainier Np, Steens, Siskiyous, N Cascades Np
• Native: No