Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness
Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department
of Natural Sciences
Conium maculatum Linnaeus
(Poison Hemlock)
Family: Apiaceae
Status: Exotic, Noxious Weed Class B (known from more widespread areas in the state)
Synonyms:
None
Conium maculatum is a tall biennial plant with large compound umbels and compound leaves. The small flowers are white. The foliage is glabrous.
Some stems are commonly purple spotted, but they may have no spots at all. All parts of the C. maculatum plant contain the coniine alkaloid, which causes
curare-like neuromuscular blockade, and are deadly poisonous in relatively small amounts.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Conium maculatum, photo Russ Kleinman, Rte. 180N, May 21, 2007
Conium maculatum, growth habit, photo Russ Kleinman, Hwy 180N in Cliff at bridge over Gila, May 13, 2010
Conium maculatum, upper portion of stem, photo Russ Kleinman, Hwy 180N in Cliff at bridge over Gila, May 13, 2010
Conium maculatum, compound umbel, photo Russ Kleinman, Hwy 180N in Cliff at bridge over Gila, May 13, 2010
Conium maculatum, part of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Hwy 180N in Cliff at bridge over Gila, May 13, 2010
Conium maculatum, purple spots on stem, photo Russ Kleinman, Hwy 180N in Cliff at bridge over Gila, May 13, 2010
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