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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