Poison hemlock is a member of the wild carrot family, and is common along roadsides, waterways, and in cultivated areas. It resembles anise or wild parsley, and is classified in the family Umbelliferae, the parsley family. All parts of this plant are poisonous: leaves, stems, roots, and fruits. Poison hemlock contains volatile alkaloids that have been used as a poison since ancient times. The famous incident of Socrates’ death in Athens in 329 BC occurred when he was given the juice of poison hemlock to drink.
How can you identify it? Look closely at the stem of any plant you may suspect of being poison hemlock. The stem is hollow, smooth (not hairy) and marked with purple streaks and blotches. These blotches and streaks on a green hollow hairless stem, and the mottled purple spots, are definite identifiers of the plant. The finely divided leaves, fern-like, resemble Queen Anne’s lace. Flowers are lacy and white, appearing from late May to August.
Sometimes the characteristic red spots found on the stem and branches are referred to as “the blood of Socrates” in reference to his death.
From Wikipedia
Medicinal Uses-
Poison hemlock has been used as a sedative and for its antispasmodic properties. It was also used by Greek and Persian physicians for a variety of problems, such as arthritis. However, it wasn’t always effective as the difference between a therapeutic and a toxic amount is very slight. Overdoses can produce paralysis and loss of speech being followed by depression of the respiratory function and then death.
