Al Schneider's Rocky Mountains Plant Descriptions

Water Hemlock
Cicuta maculata
Carrot family (Apiaceae)

All parts of this tall, stout wetland plant are extremely poisonous. Even small amounts can be deadly. All species of water hemlock look superficially similar to other members of the Parsley Family that one might nibble for a bit of parsley flavoring. Avoid all unless you are an expert in distinguishing the various species. Cut stems and roots exude a yellow, oily, highly toxic liquid that smells like parsnips. veins channeling to the notch between is a good field mark for this species. Certain identification can be made by making a longitudinal section of the thick root; it has -partitions separating air spaces. "Cicuta" is the ancient Latin name for this plant."Maculata" means "spotted."


©2013 Steve Matson

Description

Robust , 1-3' tall, with thick hollow stems supporting flat-topped, umbrella-like flower clusters (compound ) of white-to-green flowers. Leaves are , with with saw- margins. Narrow, leaves have prominent veins which terminate in V cut at base of tooth, not at the tip of the tooth. Stems thickened and chambered at base. Sap is oily, yellow, and foul smelling. are flattened, -like "."

Field Marks

White umbrella-like flowers, compound leaves, hollow stems.

© Al Schneider

An umbel is a collection of flowers on short stalks which spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs. The arrangement can vary from being flat-topped to almost spherical.

A leaf is compound when multiple leaflets are on the same stem.

A perennial plant lives and blooms for many years.

capsule -- a type of simple, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. In most cases the capsule splits apart to release seeds.

A herb is a plant whose stems die back to the ground in the winter.

lateral -- attached to the side of an organ, for instance leaves or branches on a stem.

serrate -- toothed with asymmetrical teeth pointing forward; like the cutting edge of a saw.

cross -- To make something interbreed. The act of hybridization.

schizocarp -- a dry fruit formed from more than one carpel (a female reproductive organ) but breaking apart into individual carpels when ripe.

Like the teeth on a saw, leaves and other surfaces can have toothed edges.

fruit -- any seed-bearing structure in flowering plants. It is formed from the ovary after flowering.

pinnate -- A compound leaf with two rows of leaflets.

lanceolate -- Lance-shaped. Long, wider in the middle.

alternate -- leaves alternate along the main stem and are attached singly.

leaflets -- Each little leaf-like thing in a compound leaf is a leaflet.