Cicuta maculata

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several key regions of northern and western North America. In the Subarctic regions of America, its presence is documented in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon. Moving south, the species is also commonly found throughout the Western Canadian provinces. Specifically, it inhabits the landscapes of both Alberta and British Columbia. Together, these locations define the broad geographical range of Cicuta maculata.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Cicuta maculata is characterized by its status as a perennial herb, allowing it to persist in suitable wetland habitats over multiple growing seasons. As a perennial, the plant typically begins its cycle from a thick, tuberous rhizome that serves as a vital energy reservoir for surviving unfavorable periods. During the spring, the plant utilizes these stored nutrients to initiate rapid vegetative growth, producing lush, compound leaves and robust stems. The reproductive phase occurs during the summer months, when the plant produces small, white, umbel-shaped flowers that facilitate pollination. Following successful fertilization, the plant develops numerous small seeds which are dispersed to colonize new areas of moist soil or mud. After the flowering and seeding period, the above-ground foliage senesces, and the plant enters a period of dormancy, relying on its underground structures to endure the winter before restarting its cycle the following year.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cicuta maculata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically categorized as a forb. The plant is self-supporting in its structure, lacking any climber or liana tendencies, and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. Its habitat and moisture preference are versatile, as it can be found in aquatic, semiaquatic, or terrestrial environments.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cicuta maculata is characterized by its specialized metabolic and biochemical processes, most notably its reliance on the C3 photosynthetic pathway for carbon fixation. As a C3 plant, it utilizes the enzyme Rubisco to catalyze the initial carboxylation of CO2 within the mesophyll cells, forming a three-carbon compound during the Calvin cycle. This pathway is typical for plants inhabiting temperate, moist environments where water availability is sufficient to avoid the carbon-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM species. Beyond its carbon assimilation, the plant's physiology is defined by the intense biosynthesis of highly potent, lipid-soluble neurotoxins, specifically cicutoxin, which acts as a potent GABA receptor antagonist. These secondary metabolites are integrated into the plant's physiological framework as chemical defenses, altering the electrochemical signaling in nervous systems upon ingestion. The plant's overall physiological vigor is closely tied to its preference for hydric soils, which supports the high transpiration rates necessary to maintain the turgor and metabolic flux required for its rapid growth and complex biochemical synthesis.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cicuta maculata is centered around its seed production, which displays a specific range of physical characteristics. The seeds produced by this species vary in size and weight, with a recorded minimum seed mass of 0.00145 g and a maximum seed mass reaching up to 0.0041 g. Across a studied population, the average weight of these seeds is documented at a mean seed mass of 0.0030625 g. These metrics characterize the reproductive output of the plant, reflecting the biological investment in its progeny through the production of small, lightweight seeds.

Seed mass max:

0.0041 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0030625 g

Seed mass min:

0.00145 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cicuta maculata has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CONIINE, Cicutine, FAT.

CONIINE

1. Dr. Duke

Cicutine

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Cicuta maculata has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Emetic, Paralytic.

Emetic

1. Dr. Duke

Paralytic

1. Dr. Duke