Conium maculatum

Images
by Gurcharan Singh (Inserted by J.M.Garg)

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Poison hemlock;
 
Tall herbaceous plant often reaching 3 m in height; leaves bipinnate with deeply serrate segments; involucre with minute bracts; rays 8-20; involucel of of 3-5 bracts, 1-2 mm long; flowers white, pedicels 2-3 times longer; fruit broadly ovoid 2-3 mm long, with prominent obtuse undulates ridges.
 
Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) Week: Conium maculatum from Kashmir: Conium maculatum Linn., Sp. Pl. 243. 1753
syn: Cicuta officinalis Crantz; Coriandrum maculatum (L.) Roth; Coriandrum cicuta Crantz
Common name: Poison hemlock
Vernacular: Morkach
Tall herbaceous plant often reaching 3 m in height; leaves bipinnate with deeply serrate segments; involucre with minute bracts; rays 8-20; involucel of of 3-5 bracts, 1-2 mm long; flowers white, pedicels 2-3 times longer; fruit broadly ovoid 2-3 mm long, with prominent obtuse undulates ridges.
A highly poisonous plant, common in wastelands in Kashmir especially at lower altitudes. In ancient Greek it was used to poison convicts, the most famous victim being Socrates. He was given Poison hemlock after being
condemned to death forimpiety <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impiety> in 399 BC
Recently i collected this plant from Mahabaleswhar (weighing 2 kg aerial parts for some research work). I was not aware of the properties of this plant.
I will caution our people while they work on this plant.

 

Conium maculatum L., the Poison hemlock from Kashmir Valley, a very common weed now on roadsides and waste places, growing up to 2 m in height. The infusion of plant is reported to have been given to the Philosopher Socrates after he was condemned.

does this plant have a hollow stem with tell tale streaks (you know what i mena without spelling it out in the open) ? then its correct

Yes … This I remember from my childhood days. We had a small groove of them in a neglected place inside fence, hollow, more than 3 cm thick, with purple striations.

 

 
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