Leaves

The leaves are two- to four-pinnate, finely divided, hairless and lacy, overall triangular in shape, up to 50 cm long and 40 cm broad.

Flowers

The flowers of hemlock are white and bloom in an umbrella shape pattern in spring. Plants in the Apiaceae family have flowers that appear in compound umbels, which means that all of the little umbrellas branch out from one main, central umbrella – the poison hemlock umbel is quite rounded.

Seeds

Globular and winged. Like an over-inflated rugby ball with ridges from top to bottom.

Stem

Grows to 1.5 to 2.5 m tall, with a smooth, hairless, green, hollow stem, usually spotted or streaked with red or purple on the lower half of the stem.

Fruit

Taste

n/a

Frequency & law

Very common and not restricted

The nuanced bit

The biggest issue with Hemlock, like may of the apiaceae family, is that it looks considerably alike to other edible plants. The Apiaceae family is not one to be trifled with.

Possible confusion

Many of the Apiaceae family look similar and Hemlock is no exception. Lookalikes include cow parsley, fool’s parsley, chervil, sweet cicely and so on. The fact that so many good edibles resemble the poisonous members of the Apiaceae family is the reason why we recommend leaving the entire family to more experienced foragers.

Habitat

Waste ground and in damp places, avoiding acid soils and heavy shade. Europe, including Britain, West Asia, North Africa, and North and South America.

How to harvest

n/a

Cooking tips

n/a

Other uses

Folklore

At the age of 70, Socrates was brought to trial for “corruption of the youth” and “failing to acknowledge the Greek gods, and introducing new gods”. He was found guilty and sentenced to death by drinking poison hemlock.