Spotted Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata)
- Family: Carrot (Apiaceae)
- Flowering: June-September.
- Field Marks: This tall perennial differs from all other similar species by its compound leaves divided into leaflets more than 1/2 inch broad, its large umbels of white flowers, and its smooth fruits.
- Habitat: Swamps, marshes, along streams, wet meadows, roadside ditches.
- Habit: Coarse perennial with a tuber-like base.
- Stems: Erect, branched, hairy, up to 7 feet tall.
- Leaves: Alternate, pinnately divided into numerous leaflets, the leaflets linear to broadly lanceolate, pointed at the tip, rounded or tapering to the base, usually sharply toothed, hairy, up to 3 inches long, more than 1/2 inch broad.
- Flowers: Many flowers borne in small umbels which, in turn, make up a large umbel up to 4 inches across, white.
- Sepals: 5, green, triangular.
- Petals: 5, free, white, about 1/10 inch long.
- Pistils: Ovary inferior.
- Fruits: Nearly spherical, smooth but with prominent, vertical ribs, up to 1/4 inch long.
- Notes: All parts of this species are considered to be poisonous to most animals.
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