hemlock

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• hemlock
• poison-hemlock
• deadly-hemlock
• carrot-fern
• fool's-parsley
• poison hemlock
• spotted-hemlock
• spotted-parsley

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Coriandrum maculatum
• Conium leiocarpum
• Conium maculatum subsp. viride
• Selinum conium
• Sium conium
• Conium croaticum
• Conium ceretanum
• Conium maculatum var. leiocarpum
• Conium strictum
• Conium maculatum var. barceloi
• Conium maculatum subsp. croaticum
• Conium maculatum var. immaculatum
• Conium maculatum subsp. leiocarpum
• Conium maculatum var. viride
• Conium maculosum
• Conium cicuta
• Conium pyrenaicum
• Conium tenuifolium
• Cicuta officinalis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Conium maculatum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Apiales and the family Apiaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Conium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as hemlock, exhibits a widespread presence across several regions of Northern Europe. It is commonly found growing throughout the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. In the northernmost reaches of the continent, the species is also established in Finland. Its distribution continues westward, where it is frequently documented across Great Britain. Finally, the plant maintains a notable presence in the landscapes of Ireland and Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Conium maculatum is characterized by a broad adaptability to various landscapes, primarily favoring lowland habitats. This species exhibits a significant altitudinal plasticity, capable of thriving across a diverse vertical gradient that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends to high-altitude environments reaching a maximum of 3045 m AMSL. This extensive elevational range allows the plant to colonize a wide array of ecological niches, from coastal plains to montane regions, depending on the local environmental conditions.

Elevational range max:

3045 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Conium maculatum is characterized by a biennial lifecycle, typically spending its first year as a low-growing rosette of leaves before developing a tall, flowering reproductive stalk in its second year. As a hemicryptophyte, the plant protects its perennuating buds at or just below the soil surface during unfavorable periods. Its growth pattern is deciduous, meaning it sheds its foliage following the completion of its reproductive cycle or during seasonal dormant periods.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

biennial

Morphology

The morphology of Conium maculatum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically categorized as a forb. This terrestrial, independent plant grows in an erect shoot orientation and is self-supporting rather than acting as a climber or a vine. It lacks any epiphytic or parasitic tendencies, functioning as a standard terrestrial organism. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variability in height, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 3 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 1.79 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

1.79166666666667 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Conium maculatum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, typical of many temperate herbaceous plants, and it functions as a non-carnivorous organism. Its leaf morphology plays a significant role in its resource acquisition, featuring a pinnatisect leaf form with a mean surface area of approximately 544.19815 cm². The dimensions of the foliage are highly variable; while the mean leaf length is recorded at 2 cm, individual leaves can reach a maximum length of up to 50 cm, with minimum lengths starting at 1 cm. Similarly, leaf width fluctuates significantly, ranging from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 40 cm, with a mean width of 0.75 cm. These morphological variations contribute to a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 240.2 cm²/g, reflecting the plant's strategy for balancing light interception and biomass investment.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

pinnatisect

Leaf length max:

50 cm

Leaf length mean:

2 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf size mean:

544.19815 cm²

Leaf width max:

40 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.75 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

240.2 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Conium maculatum is characterized by a sexual process involving bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being entirely absent. The plant features an umbel inflorescence where the individual flowers are quite small, reaching a maximum length of 0.15 cm and a maximum width of 0.1 cm. Flowering typically occurs during the summer months, beginning in June and concluding in July. The pollination syndrome is classified as biotic, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Once fertilization occurs—which can happen via self-fertilization as the trait is present—the plant develops fruits that vary in size, with a mean length of 0.325 cm (ranging from 0.25 cm to 0.4 cm) and a mean width of 0.175 cm (ranging from 0.15 cm to 0.3 cm). These fruits are highly prolific, producing more than 1,000 seeds per fruit. The individual seeds are quite small, possessing a mean mass of approximately 0.00265 g, with a minimum mass of 0.002027 g and a maximum of 0.00417 g. Dispersal of the seeds follows an unspecialized syndrome, though it also exhibits anthropochorous tendencies, meaning human activity can play a role in its spread.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower length max:

0.15 cm

Flower width max:

0.1 cm

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

0.4 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.325 cm

Fruit length min:

0.25 cm

Fruit width max:

0.3 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.175 cm

Fruit width min:

0.15 cm

Inflorescence :

umbel

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00417 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00265247933333333 g

Seed mass min:

0.002027 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Conium maculatum has 13 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CONIINE, CHLOROGENIC ACID, CONHYDRINE, EO, FAT.

CONIINE

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Phytochemistry

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke

CONHYDRINE

1. Dr. Duke

EO

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Falcarinone

1. Dr. Duke

LIGNIN

1. Dr. Duke

Pseudoconhydrine

1. Dr. Duke

arabinose

1. Dr. Duke

caffeic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Conium maculatum has 138 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Allelochemic, Allergenic, Analgesic, AntiCVI.

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCVI

1. Dr. Duke

AntiEBV

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

AntiLegionella

1. Dr. Duke

Antiadenoviral

1. Dr. Duke

Antiaggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Conium maculatum has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include dizziness, skin diseases, vertigo.

Dizziness

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Skin diseases

1. Bollettino chimico farmaceutico

Vertigo

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Preparations

Conium maculatum has 3 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include drops, infusion, tablets.

Drops

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Infusion

1. Bollettino chimico farmaceutico

Tablets

1. International journal of molecular sciences