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POISON HEMLOCK
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Poison hemlock, Conium maculatum, a biennial herb of the carrot family, Umbelliferae, is very poisonous and is the plant associated with the death of Socrates. It is native to Europe but now grows wild throughout the New World. Poison hemlock reaches 3 m (10 ft) tall and has a smooth, hollow stem that is spotted or striped with purplish color. Its root is white and carrotlike.
Poison hemlock has leaves that may exceed 30 cm (12 in) long and are divided into many fine-toothed segments, and its tiny white flowers are formed into small clusters, which themselves are grouped into multiple dome-shaped clusters about 5 cm (2 in) across. Water hemlock, or spotted cowbane, Cicuta maculata, of eastern North America resembles poison hemlock, but its root is branched.
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