SPOTTED WATER HEMLOCK

CICUTA MACULATA

Parsley Family, Apiaceae

Perennial herb

Spherical clusters of tiny, white flowers grow on this 2–9-foot-tall-plant that favors wet habitats. The stout, smooth stems often have purple streaks or spots and are hollow except at the nodes. All parts are DEADLY POISONOUS, especially the fleshy tuberous roots.

FLOWERS: June–September. Flower stems, 3/4–7 inches long (2–18 cm), radiate from a single point to form a rounded array consisting of numerous umbrella-shaped clusters (umbels) of tiny white flowers, each with 5 petals.

LEAVES: Alternate. Blade pinnately compound, 6–18 inches (15–45 cm) long, divided into leaflets spaced opposite along midrib. Leaflets divided again 2-3 times, lance-shaped, 3/4–4 inches long (2–10 cm), with serrated margins.

HABITAT: Wet meadows, stream banks in mountains.

ELEVATION: 5,300–8,800 feet.

RANGE: Throughout North America.

SIMILAR SPECIES: Poison Hemlock, Conium maculatum, has parsley-like leaves. Parsnip, Pastinaca sativa, has yellow flowers.

NM COUNTIES: Statewide in mountains of NM in mid- to high-elevation, moist habitats: Catron, Chaves, Cibola, Colfax, Grant, Lea, Lincoln, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Otero, Rio Arriba, San Juan, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Sierra, Taos. Union.