Leslie Massey
Poison hemlock, or Conium maculatum, is a highly poisonous flowering plant in the Apiaceae family. All parts of the plant are toxic, especially when ingested, and it is native to Europe and North Africa. Poison hemlock has been introduced to other regions, including Australia, where it has become naturalised and is considered an invasive weed. The plant is toxic to humans and livestock and can cause respiratory failure and death. In Australia, poison hemlock is found in various states, including Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania, often near waterways and in disturbed areas. With its toxicity and ability to spread rapidly, poison hemlock poses a significant threat to native ecosystems in Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common names | Hemlock, Poison Hemlock, Wild Carrot, Wild Parsnip, Spotted Hemlock, Poison Parsley, Devil's Bread, Devil's Porridge, Bunk, California-Ferm, Cashes, Herb-Bonnet, Kill-Cow, Nebraska-Fern, Poisonroot, Poison-Snakeweed, St. Bennet's-Herb, Snakeweed, Stinkweed, Wode-Whistle |
| Scientific name | Conium maculatum |
| Origin | Europe and North Africa |
| Australian regions | Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia |
| Toxicity | All parts of the plant are toxic to humans and livestock. Poisoning symptoms include nervousness, trembling, loss of muscular power, stumbling, falling, salivation, nausea, dilation of pupils, convulsions, and respiratory distress. |
| Physical characteristics | Green stems with light purple spots, large fern-like leaves, small white, cream, or light pink flowers in compound umbels, deep taproot |
| Height | 1-2.5 metres |
| Lifecycle | Biennial, flowering in the first or second spring |
| Soil and climate | Adaptable to most soils and conditions, but grows in cool to warm temperate climates in moist conditions |
| Control | Requires a long-term management plan for successful eradication, including a combination of machine, manual, and chemical treatment |
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What You'll Learn
Poison hemlock is naturalised in Australia
Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) is naturalised in Australia. It is a highly poisonous plant that is toxic to humans and livestock and will cause death by respiratory paralysis if eaten. Poison hemlock is a biennial herb that can grow up to 2.5 metres tall, with green stems and light purple spots, large fern-like leaves, and small white, cream, or light pink flowers. It is native to Europe and North Africa but has been introduced to other parts of the world, including Australia, where it has become naturalised.
The plant is often found in poorly drained soil near water sources such as streams, ditches, and rivers, as well as on roadsides, cultivated fields, and waste areas. It prefers cool to warm temperate climates and moist conditions and can establish itself quickly after rainfall, particularly in disturbed sites or areas with low vegetation cover. Poison hemlock is spread by seeds, which can be dispersed over short distances by wind or water and over longer distances by human activities, such as contaminated soil, clothing, or farm produce.
In Australia, poison hemlock is present in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), New South Wales (NSW), Queensland (QLD), Victoria (VIC), Tasmania (TAS), South Australia (SA), and Western Australia (WA). It is a declared weed in NSW, Victoria, and WA. The timing of its introduction to Australia is uncertain, but it is now widespread in certain regions, particularly in urban areas around Melbourne, Geelong, and Ballarat.
All parts of the poison hemlock plant are toxic, especially the seeds and roots. The plant contains alkaloids, including coniine and γ-coniceine, which are neurotoxins that affect the central nervous system and can lead to respiratory failure and death. Ingesting as few as six to eight fresh leaves or a smaller dose of the seeds or roots may be fatal for adults. Symptoms of poisoning include nervousness, trembling, loss of muscular power, stumbling, falling, salivation, nausea, dilation of pupils, convulsions, and respiratory distress.
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It is toxic to humans and livestock
Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), a flowering plant in the carrot family Apiaceae, is native to Europe and North Africa but has been introduced to other parts of the world, including Australia. All parts of the plant are toxic, especially when ingested, with seeds and roots being particularly poisonous. The plant contains the neurotoxin coniine, which acts on the central nervous system and can cause respiratory collapse and death in both humans and livestock. Ingestion of as little as six to eight fresh leaves or a smaller dose of seeds or roots may be fatal.
In Australia, poison hemlock is found in various regions, including coastal and sub-coastal regions in Victoria, Eastern NSW, ACT, Tasmania, SE Queensland, SE South Australia, and SW WA. It is often encountered around rivers in southeast Australia and Tasmania, and it thrives in damp soil near streams, ditches, and other water bodies. It also grows on roadsides, disturbed ground, and waste areas. Poison hemlock is a weed that can invade and affect the growth of other desired plants, reducing the grazing value of an area.
The toxicity of poison hemlock poses a significant risk to humans and livestock. In humans, ingestion of the plant can lead to serious illness or death. Symptoms of poisoning include nervousness, trembling, and respiratory distress. The toxic effects of coniine are not limited to the respiratory system; it also affects the kidneys, causing constriction of the urinary bladder sphincter and leading to urine accumulation. Acute toxicity may resolve with spontaneous recovery if further exposure is avoided and artificial ventilation is provided until the effects wear off.
Poison hemlock is also toxic to livestock, including cattle, pigs, and horses. While it is rarely eaten green by stock, accidental ingestion can occur when it is incorporated into hay or silage. Poisoning in livestock can cause loss of muscular power, stumbling, falling, salivation, nausea, pupil dilation, and convulsions. Additionally, sub-lethal doses of poison hemlock in pregnant cattle and pigs can result in birth deformities.
Due to its toxicity, it is crucial to identify poison hemlock and take precautions to avoid accidental ingestion. If you suspect poisoning, seek medical help immediately and provide a piece of the plant for identification if possible.
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It grows in cool to warm, moist climates
Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), a highly poisonous flowering plant native to Europe and North Africa, has been introduced to parts of Australia. It is a hardy plant that can thrive in a variety of environments, including cool to warm, moist climates.
In Australia, poison hemlock is often found in moist, shady areas, such as riverbanks, roadsides, and around the edges of pastures and cultivated fields. It is well-adapted to disturbed sites, where it can rapidly establish and outcompete native vegetation. The plant grows in cool to warm, temperate climates, typically in moist conditions. It is often found near water sources, such as streams, ditches, and other watery surfaces.
Poison hemlock is a biennial herb that can grow up to 2.4 metres (8 feet) tall. It has green stems with light purple spots, large fern-like leaves, and small white, cream, or light pink flowers arranged in umbrella-shaped clusters. The plant has a distinctive, usually unpleasant, odour.
The seeds of poison hemlock are its primary means of propagation, and they can be spread over short distances by wind or water and over long distances by human activities, such as contaminated farm machinery, vehicles, or clothing. The seeds germinate mainly in autumn, occasionally in spring, and develop a deep taproot within the first few months. The plants may flower in the first spring after germination or may remain vegetative until the second spring.
All parts of the poison hemlock plant are toxic, especially the seeds and roots, and can cause death by respiratory paralysis if ingested. The plant contains the neurotoxin coniine, which acts directly on the central nervous system, leading to respiratory failure. Ingesting as few as six to eight fresh leaves or a smaller amount of seeds or roots may be fatal for adults.
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It is a declared weed in NSW, Victoria and WA
Poison hemlock, or Conium maculatum, is a highly poisonous flowering plant in the carrot family Apiaceae. Native to Europe and North Africa, it has become naturalised in other parts of the world, including Australia, where it is a declared weed in NSW, Victoria, and WA.
Poison hemlock is a hardy plant capable of living in a variety of environments and growing in different types of soil. It can be found in cool to warm temperate climates in moist conditions, such as riverbanks, roadsides, and around the edges of pastures. It also grows on drier rough grassland, roadsides, and disturbed ground. The plant can reach heights of up to 2.5 metres and has green stems with light purple spots, large fern-like leaves, and small white, cream, or light pink flowers.
Poison hemlock is toxic to humans and livestock and can cause death by respiratory paralysis if ingested. It contains a variety of toxins that affect the nervous system, including the piperidine alkaloid neurotoxin coniine. Coniine acts directly on the central nervous system and can lead to respiratory collapse and death even in small doses. Poisoning symptoms in livestock include loss of muscular power, stumbling and falling, salivation, nausea, dilation of pupils, and convulsions.
Due to its toxicity and invasive nature, poison hemlock is a declared weed in NSW, Victoria, and WA. It is important to control and manage the spread of this plant to prevent negative impacts on human and animal health, as well as the environment. Effective control measures may include a combination of machine, manual, and chemical treatments to prevent seed set and exhaust the soil.
In NSW, poison hemlock is found in all coastal, tablelands, and western slopes regions. In Victoria, it is mainly found in eastern and southern regions, with major infestations around urban areas such as Melbourne, Geelong, and Ballarat. In WA, it is present in the southwestern part of the state.
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It has alternative names, including devil's bread
Poison hemlock, known by the botanical name Conium maculatum, is a highly poisonous flowering plant in the carrot family Apiaceae. It is native to Europe and North Africa but has been introduced to other parts of the world outside its native range, including Australia.
Poison hemlock has several alternative names, including Devil's Bread or Devil's Porridge in Hiberno-English. In British and Australian English, the most common name is simply hemlock, while in American English, it is typically called poison hemlock. Less frequent names used in both America and Australia include spotted hemlock and poison parsley. In Australia, it is also occasionally referred to as wild carrot or wild parsnip.
Devil's Bread is a name that reflects the plant's toxicity, as ingestion of even a small amount can result in serious health problems, including vomiting, paralysis, and respiratory failure. All parts of the poison hemlock plant are toxic, with the seeds and roots being particularly poisonous. The plant contains a variety of toxins, including coniine, N-methylconiine, conhydrine, pseudoconhydrine, and gamma-coniceine, which affect the nervous system and can lead to respiratory failure and death.
The poison hemlock plant is a hardy and invasive species that can grow in a variety of environments, including woodland clearings, roadsides, along watercourses, and wastelands. It prefers damper soils and is often found near streams, ditches, and other watery surfaces. The plant has a distinctive unpleasant odour that carries with the wind. It can grow quite tall, reaching heights of up to 2.4 metres (8 feet) with a long penetrating root.
Due to its extreme toxicity and ability to spread rapidly, poison hemlock poses a significant risk to humans and livestock. Ingesting more than 100-300 milligrams of coniine, which is approximately equivalent to six to eight hemlock leaves, can be fatal for adult humans. Farmers must take precautions to ensure that their animals do not consume this toxic plant, as it can also cause birth defects in unborn cattle and pigs if consumed in sub-lethal doses.
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Frequently asked questions
Poison hemlock, or Conium maculatum, is native to Europe and North Africa but has been introduced to parts of Australia. It is found in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia.
Poison hemlock is a hardy, herbaceous plant that can grow to heights of up to 2.4 metres. It has green stems with light purple spots, large fern-like leaves, and small white, cream, or light pink flowers in umbrella-shaped clusters.
Yes, poison hemlock is highly toxic to humans and animals. All parts of the plant are poisonous, especially the seeds and roots. Ingesting even a small amount can cause respiratory failure and death. It has been used as a poison to execute criminals, notably Socrates.
Poison hemlock spreads primarily through seeds, which can be dispersed by water, wind, people, vehicles, machinery, or contaminated soil. It typically grows in moist, disturbed areas, such as riverbanks, roadsides, and around pastures.
