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    Poison Hemlock

    Uploaded by

    Saša Komesarović
    This document provides information on poison hemlock, including: 1) Poison hemlock is a highly toxic biennial weed in the carrot family that was originally introduced as a garden plant. All parts of the plant are poisonous to both animals and humans. 2) It can grow up to 4 feet tall and has hollow ridged stems, white flowers, and pinnately compound leaves. The plant spreads through fibrous roots from a turnip-like taproot. 3) Poisoning symptoms include nervous trembling, excessive salivation, dilation of pupils and rapid weak pulse. Progression from initial symptoms to respiratory paralysis and death can be rapid.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Poison Hemlock

    Uploaded by

    Saša Komesarović
    87 views2 pages
    This document provides information on poison hemlock, including: 1) Poison hemlock is a highly toxic biennial weed in the carrot family that was originally introduced as a garden plant. All parts of the plant are poisonous to both animals and humans. 2) It can grow up to 4 feet tall and has hollow ridged stems, white flowers, and pinnately compound leaves. The plant spreads through fibrous roots from a turnip-like taproot. 3) Poisoning symptoms include nervous trembling, excessive salivation, dilation of pupils and rapid weak pulse. Progression from initial symptoms to respiratory paralysis and death can be rapid.

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    Poison-Hemlock

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    This document provides information on poison hemlock, including: 1) Poison hemlock is a highly toxic biennial weed in the carrot family that was originally introduced as a garden plant. All parts of the plant are poisonous to both animals and humans. 2) It can grow up to 4 feet tall and has hollow ridged stems, white flowers, and pinnately compound leaves. The plant spreads through fibrous roots from a turnip-like taproot. 3) Poisoning symptoms include nervous trembling, excessive salivation, dilation of pupils and rapid weak pulse. Progression from initial symptoms to respiratory paralysis and death can be rapid.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    87 views2 pages

    Poison Hemlock

    Uploaded by

    Saša Komesarović
    This document provides information on poison hemlock, including: 1) Poison hemlock is a highly toxic biennial weed in the carrot family that was originally introduced as a garden plant. All parts of the plant are poisonous to both animals and humans. 2) It can grow up to 4 feet tall and has hollow ridged stems, white flowers, and pinnately compound leaves. The plant spreads through fibrous roots from a turnip-like taproot. 3) Poisoning symptoms include nervous trembling, excessive salivation, dilation of pupils and rapid weak pulse. Progression from initial symptoms to respiratory paralysis and death can be rapid.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 2

    W 325

    Pasture Weed Fact Sheet


    Poison Hemlock
    G. Neil Rhodes, Jr., Professor and Extension Weed Management Specialist
    Trevor D. Israel, Extension Assistant
    Department of Plant Sciences

    Poison Hemlock Conium m aculatum L .

    Classification and Description


    Poison hemlock, also called deadly hemlock, poison parsley,
    spotted hemlock, and California fern, is a highly poisonous bien-
    nial weed that is a member of the family Apiaceae, which is also
    referred to as the carrot family. It was originally introduced as a
    garden plant because of its attractive flowers. Other members of
    this family include wild carrot (Daucus carota L.), wild chervil
    (Anthriscus syvlestris (L.) Hoffm.), and a close relative to poison
    hemlock, water hemlock (Cicuta maculata L.). This native of
    Eurasia is found throughout Tennessee where it usually occurs in
    patches in cool-season grass pastures, roadsides, drainage ditches
    and stream banks. The cotyledons or seed leaves of seedlings are Fig. 1. Poison hemlock flowers in compound umbels.
    oblong-lanceolate, and the first true leaf is pinnately compound
    and glabrous. Flowers are small and white in large, compound
    umbels 1.5 to 2.4 inches wide (Fig. 1). The hollow stems of this
    plant are ridged, glabrous, and purple-spotted (Fig. 2). Leaves
    form a basal rosette; they are alternate upward, petioled, approxi-
    mately 8 to 16 inches long, broadly triangular-ovate, and com-
    pound. Leaflets are lanceolate to ovate-oblong, finely cut, less
    than 0.5 inch long. Crushed leaves have a mouse-like odor. Ma-
    ture plants can be 3 to 4 feet tall (Fig. 3) with fibrous roots
    branching from a turnip-like taproot (Fig. 4).

    Fig. 2. Pinnately compound leaf and hollow stem.

    Fig. 3. Mature plant in flower. Fig. 4. Fibrous roots from taproot.


    Problems in Pastures and Hay Fields
    Poison hemlock is one of the most toxic plants in North America. It is highly poisonous to animals and humans. Cases have been
    documented where children have been fatally poisoned by making whistles or pea shooters from the hollow stems. Other human
    deaths have occurred where the plant is mistaken for wild parsnips or parsley. Toxicity of this plant is due to the presence of coniine
    and related pyridine type alkaloids. All parts of the plant are toxic. Leaves are particularly poisonous in the spring, up until flower-
    ing. Fortunately the leaves are not very palatable, hence livestock seldom eat it if other feed is available. However, cattle consuming
    under a pound of plant material can be poisoned. Symptoms of poisoning include nervous trembling, excessive salivation, dilation of
    pupils and a rapid, weak pulse. Progression from initial symptoms to respiratory paralysis, coma and death is rapid.

    Management in Pastures and Hay Fields


    As is the case with most other weeds, prevention is an essential component of an overall management plan. Scouting of pastures and
    knowing how to recognize poison hemlock by sight allows for physical removal and disposal of initial introductions of this weed.
    Fortunately, most pasture infestations of this weed are very localized rather than being scattered across the entire pasture. This allows
    for spot sprays of herbicides, and also for exclusion of livestock from infested areas with temporary fencing. Remember that poison
    hemlock and most other toxic plants are low in palatability. However, as they begin to wilt following treatment with a herbicide,
    palatability increases and often animals will begin to graze the plants resulting in poisoning. Livestock should be excluded from in-
    fested areas prior to applying a herbicide. They should continue to be excluded until the plants have died and the carcasses are brown
    and dry.
    Two times of the year, either in November or March to April, are best for treatment. With thorough coverage that is achievable with
    spot sprays, 2,4-D, dicamba (Banvel, Clarity, Oracle, others) 2,4-D + dicamba (Brash, Weedmaster, Range Star) and aminopyralid +
    2,4-D (GrazonNext HL) are effective. Prior to application of any herbicide, be sure to thoroughly read and understand the herbicide
    label, and follow all directions and precautions. Also, remember that practicing good herbicide stewardship is everyone’s responsi-
    bility. For more information on herbicide stewardship, please visit our website: herbicidestewardship.utk.edu.

    References
    Anonymous. 2006. Poisonous plant research: poison hemlock - Conium maculatum. USDA ARS.
    http://www.ars.usda.gov/services/docs.htm?docid=9975.
    Bryson, C. T. and M. S. DeFelice, eds. 2009. p. 41 in Weeds of the South, Univ. of Georgia Press, Athens, GA 30602. 468 pp.
    Chan, A., D. Downs, C. Tsai, B. Begley, and J. Triplett. 2002. Poisonous plants - poison hemlock - Conium maculatum. University
    of Pennsylvania. http//cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/poison/plants/pppoiso.htm.

    Picture Credits
    Fig. 1. Poison hemlock flowers. Digital image. Accessed 24 Oct. 2014. http://www.eddmaps.org/distribution/point.cfm?id=1713528

    Disclaimer

    This publication contains pesticide recommendations that are subject to change at any time. The recommendations in this publication are provided only as a guide. It is always the pesticide
    applicator's responsibility, by law, to read and follow all current label directions for the specific pesticide being used. The label always takes precedence over the recommendations found in
    this publication.

    Use of trade or brand names in this publication is for clarity and information; it does not imply approval of the product to the exclusion of others that may be of similar, suitable composition,
    nor does it guarantee or warrant the standard of the product. The author(s), the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and University of Tennessee Extension assume no liability
    resulting from the use of these recommendations.

    W 325 12/14 15-0111 Programs in agriculture and natural resources, 4-H youth development, family and consumer sciences, and resource development. University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture,
    U.S. Department of Agriculture and county governments cooperating. UT Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.

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