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Poison hemlock 

Conium maculatum

poisonous 

Family: Apiaceae 

Introduced perennial

The juice or the extract of Conium maculatum was allegedly

administered to criminals, and was the lethal poison, which the

Greek philosopher Socrates was condemned to drink (399 BC.)

Hollow stem with distinctive purple

spots

Plant Attributes

•Cool season forb

•Highest concentration of poison is in the seeds

•Human deaths by confusing plant with wild carrot or parsnip

•Affects the central nervous system causing muscle paralysis and

respiratory failure

•Sheep less affected than other livestock (horses, cattle)

Drought / Stress Tolerance

•Tolerates drier conditions than Cicuta maculata

Grazing Tolerance

•Highly poisonous to livestock

•All parts of the plant are highly toxic

Fire Tolerance

•Topkilled by fire