State noxious weed officials warn about poison hemlock dangers

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State noxious weed officials warn about poison hemlock dangers

State noxious weed officials warn about poison hemlock dangers

Wednesday, June 13, 2012 12:47 PM CDT

It’s that time of year when poison hemlock, a dangerous noxious weed that can be fatal to humans and all classes of livestock, is once again in full growth

around the state, officials with the Idaho Weed Awareness Campaign warned today.

“Poison Hemlock is a hazardous noxious weed that Idahoans absolutely should not take lightly. It can kill a horse or a cow within hours of them eating it.

And there are documented cases where people have died from eating poison hemlock because they mistook the weed for some type of wild parsley, dill or fennel.

Poison Hemlock roots can be mistaken for parsnips, its leaves for parsley or fennel and its roots and seeds for wild carrots or anise,” said Roger Batt, statewide

coordinator for the Idaho Weed Awareness Campaign.

Poison Hemlock, whose scientific name is Conium maculatum, is the plant from which juice was used by the ancient Greeks to kill Socrates.

Poison Hemlock typically grows in riparian areas, stream banks, canals and ditch banks and pastures . It is a biennial plant meaning it grows for two years,

flowers, seeds, and then dies. Pictures and information about Poison Hemlock and what to do to control and eradicate it are available at the Idaho Weed Awareness

Campaign’s website at: www.idahoweedawareness.org .

It’s important for property owners to get involved in dealing with poison hemlock and other noxious weeds because Idaho law requires them to control

noxious weeds on their lands. One of the best ways to control noxious weeds is to learn how to identify them on the lands you own or visit. But if you as a

landowner or recreationalist are uncertain about whether you have Poison Hemlock growing on your property, or are in need of technical expertise to identify and

eradicate this toxic noxious weed, please contact your county weed superintendent’s office or look in the yellow pages for a private weed control application

company,” Batt added.

Poison Hemlock grows 3-6 feet tall with a smooth green stem, usually spotted or streaked with red or purple spots. The leaves are finely divided and lacy,

resembling a “carrot-like” leaf. The weed has flowers that are small, white and clustered and resemble the spokes of an umbrella. The Poison Hemlock root is fleshy

and white. When crushed, Poison Hemlock’s leaves and roots emit a rank, unpleasant odor often compared to that of a mouse or parsnip.

Though highly toxic, Poison Hemlock is very easy to control and eradicate with hand pulling and the use of broadleaf herbicide treatments. Always wear

rubber gloves and protective clothing/gear when pulling this weed and place the plant into a plastic bag and dispose of it into a trash receptacle. When using an

herbicide to control and eradicate Poison Hemlock, officials say to use an approved registered herbicide and always follow the label and safety instructions on that

label.

For more information about Poison Hemlock and the best ways to eradicate and control it, log on to the Idaho Weed Awareness Campaign’s website at

www.idahoweedawareness.com and click “Weed Control” and then “Poison Hemlock.”

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