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Magnoliopsida
Conium maculatum L.
EOL Text
The nectar of the flowers attracts a wide variety of flies, beetles, sawflies, and wasps, including Ichneumonid and other parasitoid wasps. The caterpillars of the butterfly Papilio polyxenes asterias (Black Swallowtail) feed on the foliage, notwithstanding the extreme toxicity of the foliage. This toxicity is the result of the alkaloid coniine and other chemicals, which can be found in all parts of Poison Hemlock, including the seeds and roots. Mammalian herbivores won't touch the foliage because of its rank odor and extreme toxicity. Just a small portion of the ingested plant can be fatal to humans. Comments
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/poison_hemlock.htm |
In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / parasite
Asteroma coelomycetous anamorph of Asteroma robergei parasitises live Conium maculatum
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Foodplant / saprobe
sclerotium of Botryotinia fuckeliana is saprobic on dead stem of Conium maculatum
Remarks: season: winter-early spring
Foodplant / feeds on
adult of Chrysolina oricalcia feeds on pollen of Conium maculatum
Remarks: season: (3-)5-6(-10)
Other: uncertain
Foodplant / saprobe
apothecium of Crocicreas cyathoideum var. cyathoideum is saprobic on dead stem of Conium maculatum
Remarks: season: 3-10
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Dendryphiella dematiaceous anamorph of Dendryphiella vinosa is saprobic on dead, fallen stem of Conium maculatum
Remarks: season: 5-9
Foodplant / saprobe
perithecium of Diaporthe arctii is saprobic on dead, blackened stem of Conium maculatum
Foodplant / saprobe
sessile apothecium of Discocistella grevillei is saprobic on dead stem of Conium maculatum
Remarks: season: 4-8
Foodplant / parasite
cleistothecium of Erysiphe heraclei parasitises live Conium maculatum
Foodplant / miner
larva of Euleia heraclei mines live leaf of Conium maculatum
Foodplant / sap sucker
Hyadaphis passrinii sucks sap of live Conium maculatum
Remarks: season: summer
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
sessile apothecium of Lasiobelonium mollissimum is saprobic on dead, standing stem of Conium maculatum
Remarks: season: 4-7
Foodplant / saprobe
irregularly gregarious, subepidermal pycnidium of Phomopsis coelomycetous anamorph of Phomopsis conii is saprobic on dead stem of Conium maculatum
Remarks: season: 11
Foodplant / miner
larva of Phytomyza conii mines leaf of Conium maculatum
Other: sole host/prey
Foodplant / parasite
hypophyllous colony of sporangium of Plasmopara crustosa parasitises live leaf of Conium maculatum
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Pleurophragmium dematiaceous anamorph of Pleurophragmium parvisporum is saprobic on dead stem of Conium maculatum
Remarks: season: 1-12
Foodplant / parasite
telium of Puccinia conii parasitises live Conium maculatum
Foodplant / spot causer
amphigenous, in small scattered groups colony of Ramularia hyphomycetous anamorph of Ramularia heraclei causes spots on live leaf of Conium maculatum
Foodplant / saprobe
colony of Stachybotrys dematiaceous anamorph of Stachybotrys dichroa is saprobic on dead stem of Conium maculatum
Remarks: season: 4-9
Fl. Per. June to August.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=200015502 |
Conium maculatum is a widely distributed cosmopolitan species native to Asia, Europe and North Africa; the species has been broadly introduced as an alien species throughout North America and other world regions. This perennial herb is typically found on poorly drained soils, particularly in riparian zones, ditches, and other surface water. It also appears at road verges, perimeters of cultivated fields and waste areas.
Known by the common name Poison hemlock, the species contains coniine, a powerful neurotoxin that can be lethal to humans and all classes of livestock.
This member of the carrot family can reach a height of three meters. The stem is generally purple-spotted or streaked; the widely ovate leaves are typically 2-pinnate and are 15 to 30 centimeters in length.
Inflorescences are much-branched.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | C. Michael Hogan, C. Michael Hogan |
Source | No source database. |
Life Cycle: In California, "poison hemlock reproduces only from seed, both as a biennial and winter annual, and occasionally as a short-lived perennial" (Goeden and Ricker 1982).
"Seeds germinate in autumn and plants develop rapidly throughout the winter and spring. Some produce flowering stems in the first spring and die in the summer. Others remain in the vegetative stage without producing flowering stems until the second spring, thus becoming a biennial. Plants are more likely to be biennial in very moist situations. After producing seeds, the plants die in the summer ... The spread of hemlock is by seeds which can adhere to farm machinery, vehicles, agricultural produce, mud and clothing as well as being carried by water and to a limited extent wind" (Parsons 1973).
"Hemlock is capable of rapid establishment after autumn rains, particularly on disturbed sites or where little vegetation exists at the start of the autumn growing season. Once it is firmly established under such conditions, hemlock can preclude most other vegetation and established pastures" (Parsons 1973).
maculatum: spotted, blotched
This biennial plant is 3-7' tall. During the 1st year, it consists of a rosette of basal leaves spanning about 1–1½' across. During the 2nd year, it produces a flowering stalk that branches occasionally. The stems are round, glabrous, light green, and purple-spotted; they often appear to be ribbed because of longitudinal veins. The alternate leaves are up to 18" long and 12" across, becoming smaller as they ascend the stems. They are double or triple pinnately compound and triangular-ovate in outline. and hairless. The individual leaflets are about 1/3" long, pinnately cleft or dentate, and hairless. These leaves have a fern-like appearance and a somewhat filmy upper surface. The basal and lower leaves have long petioles, while the upper leaves have shorter petioles. The base of each petiole is partially covered by a sheath. The upper stems terminate in compound umbels of small white flowers. These compound umbels span about 2-5" across and consist of about 8-16 umbellets. Each umbellet consists of about 12-25 flowers. A flower has 5 white obcordate petals, 5 spreading white stamens, and a white nectar pad in the center. It spans only 1/8" across when fully open. At the base of the compound umbel are several floral bracts that are ovate-lanceolate with elongated tips; there are also several bractlets at the base of each umbel. These bractlets are ovate-lanceolate like the bracts, but smaller in size. The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer and lasts about 1-2 months. Each flower is replaced by a schizocarp that is broadly ovate and somewhat flattened; it has several longitudinal ribs that are wavy. The root system consists of a white taproot. This plant spreads by reseeding itself; it often forms colonies at favorable sites. Cultivation
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/poison_hemlock.htm |
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 9
Specimens with Barcodes: 19
Species With Barcodes: 1
Poison Hemlock is a common plant that occurs in many areas of Illinois, except for scattered counties in north and south (see Distribution Map). It is undoubtedly more common than official records indicate and is still spreading to new areas of the state. Poison Hemlock is native to Europe and the Middle East, and it was introduced into North America either accidentally or deliberately. Habitats include edges of degraded wetlands and prairies, low-lying areas along small rivers, banks of drainage ditches, thickets, woodland borders, fence rows, low-lying areas along railroads and roads, pastures, and abandoned fields. This plant is usually found in disturbed areas, but it occasionally invades native habitats.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/poison_hemlock.htm |