Is there a definite clue to identify which is which? An old specimen of leaf and root was brought into the MG plant clinic today for me to ID and I can't tell, for sure, which is which. This is what I know from "Weeds of the West": Both are highly poisonous! Western water-hemlock, Cicuta douglasii Leaves alternate, one per node, petioled, pinnately divided. Leaf veins terminate at the bottom of leaf serrations (the valleys instead of the points) distinguish this species from others in this family. When the roots are split, horizontal chambers are visible. Poison hemlock, Conium maculatum L Stems are erect, stout, hollow and purple-spotted with distinct ridges and extensively branched. Leaves are shiny green, finely pinately divided three or four times and leaflets are segmented and 1/8 to 1/4 " long. Foliage has a musty odor. Is there anything that will readily identify each plant or am I looking for a quick fix and there isn't one? I believe what was brought in was the water hemlock because I couldn't fine purple spots on the small piece of the stem. The root section had the chambers but the veins in the leaves ended at the leaf points not the valleys. Could these plants have cross bread? :(( ??? Barb
No, I don't think they could hybridize. Is it possible to make a scan of the remnants and post them? Possibly it is something else altogether?
Daniel, No it's not possible. My camera will not talk to my computer currently so I let him take the specimens with him. I am getting the computer and camera fixed next week so will try again then. Thanks Barb
They split of the leaf form. Cicuta has definite leaflets, whereas Conium leaf is dissected on multiple small segments. Cicuta: http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/pics_c/cicutamacu_fo.jpg Conium: http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/c/wcoma2-lf24156.jpg Also, Conium has spots all over the stem, whereas Cicuta mostly at leaf and leaflet nodes. http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/coma2.htm http://www.missouriplants.com/Whitealt/Cicuta_maculata_page.html
Thanks Andrey, Seeing them side by side sure helps. I will continue until I can redily tell them apart. A local lady put some conium in a salad and eliminated one of her dinner guest, so we are seeing much more interest than ususal on this subject. ;)) barb
