Conium maculatum (Poison Hemlock) - Biennial

Size:

• Grows a small carrot like plant in the first year; second year grows a single stem around 4-8 ft tall

Leaves:

• Shiny green leaves that are pinnately compound, multi-stemmed and have a fern like appearance. The leaves are lacy, resembling parsley and have a musty odor when crushed.

Stem:

• Rigid and hollow with diagnostic purple strips or spots

Flowers:

• Have 5 petals, clawed, notched (1 to 1.5 mm long) and are white, umbrella-like clusters at the end of the branch

Roots:

• Taproot

Seeds:

• Fruit matures in August /September and is flat, small and grayish-green in color

Habitat:

• Habitats include streams, rivers, irrigation and roadside ditches, crop and pasturelands, as well as disturbed sites

Control:

• EXTREMELY POISONOUS. Wear full clothing and rubber gloves. If identified early enough, pulling the taproot when soil is moist can be an effective control method. When many plants are already present, containment using herbicides is crucial.