Conium maculatum
Apiaceae
June to August
It is found throughout the country.
See the BSBI distribution map for Hemlock
It is an archaeophyte and grows by water, alongside paths
and roads and on waste ground.
Hemlock is a foetid, biennial herb, growing up to 2.5m.
Flowers are in compound umbels with each umbel up to
5cm.
Flowers are 2mm with 5 white petals with slight clefts.
The 5 stamens and anthers are white and appear before
the style and stigma (protandrous).
Styles are short and reflexed.
Fruits are up to 3.5mm, sub-orbital, compressed and
with 5 ridges.
Bracts at the base of the compound umbel are small,
few and bent back.
The bracteoles at the bottom of the umbels are also
small, bent back and on only one side.
The leaves are fern-like, ranging from 2 to 5 pinnate.
The stems are hollow, hairless and spotted with purple.
Hemlock sometimes forms large stands in wet
meadows and along roads.
Hemlock is very poisonous and is reputed to be
the herb that poisoned Socrates.
Previous page: Hedge Woundwort
Next page: Himalayan Honeysuckle
Hemlock in rough grassland
Compound umbel
Umbel - notched petals
Close-up of flowers: 5 stamens, white
anthers and 2 central ovules
Bracteoles on one side of umbels
Compound umbel with fruits and
recurved bracts
Ridged spherical fruits with short
reflexed styles
3- pinnate leaves
Smooth purplish stem
Purple blotched lower stem
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