Hemlock Water Dropwort / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Toxic
Common Names
Hemlock Water Dropwort
Botanical Name
Oenanthe Crocata
Scientific Classification
Kingdom – Plantae
Order – Apilaes
Family – Apiaceae
Physical Characteristics for Hemlock Water Dropwort
Leaves
Green shiny leaves, the leaf stem branches off in opposite pairs half way up the stem. Each branch looks like a mini version of the whole shoot, with a stem and leaf stems branching off in opposite pairs, which are 2-4 times pinnate (splitting off in pairs of leaves or stems). The leaves are much more rounded than that of Cow Parsley or Poison Hemlock, but still has a toothed edge.
Flowers
The flowers grow from a central stem. The flowers grow in an umbel (this is part of the umbellifer group). There 12-20 thin stems growing from the top of the stem which at the top are 15+ more thin stems each with a single flower with 5 boomerang shaped leaves around a creamy off white centre and long white anthers with a black tip. If you turn the flower stem upside down the stems look like the spokes of an umbrella (umbrella-umbellifer is how I remember it).
Stems
Hairless but grooved like celery, they have a hollow centre.
Seeds
The seed heads are spiky clusters of small individually shaped teardrop and brownish black seeds.
Roots
Large carrot like tubers growing in bunches.
Habitat
Europe, including Britain, though absent from the far north, to W. Asia.
Damp places, ditches, along rivers, canals and streams, surrounding ponds and lakes.
Known Hazards
The whole plant is deadly toxic. The roots are the most deadly, containing a powerful neurotoxin called oenanthetoxin, which triggers spasmodic convulsions, usually followed by sudden death. This plant has caused more deaths in the UK than any other plant.
Could be Confused with
It could be confused with other memebers of the carrot family for example, Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) but this has yellow flowers.
Click here to read more about the Carrot family.
Edible Uses
This plant is deadly poisonous. Do not eat any part of it, and seek immediate medical attention if someone has done this by mistake!
Notes on Herbal uses
In the past, extracts from this plant have been used in medicine, for example as a treatment for epilepsy, and in Ireland it was apparently commonly used in a poultice for treating skin disorders and even cancers.
But being the most poisonous plant in the UK, it is no longer used for medicinal purposes.
Extra notes from the Foragers
Instances of poisoning in humans are rare, with only 13 cases reported in Britain between 1900 and 1978, mostly involving children. However, 70% of these were fatal. Serious cases usually involved consumption of the roots, which were mistaken for wild parsnip.