If I were to ask you what the most poisionous plant in North America was, could you tell me?
Okay, so you didn't get that one.
How about the second most poisonous plant in North America?
No?
I suppose you're wondering how serious I am.
Well, the most poisonous plant in North America can kill you in minutes by sending your body into violent convulsions. Some people have even chewed their tongues to bits (sorry, TMI).
The second (although not by much) most poisonous plant causes death by paralysis.
Probably a much nicer way to go but, in the end, you're still dead.
Both these plants have a wide range and can be found in most of North America, including Minnesota.
The reason why you should know what plants can kill you is that people have died from mistaking these poisonous plants for harmless ones.
The most poisonous plant in North America is water hemlock, Cicuta maculata. It is often mistaken for wild carrot or Queen Anne's lace. The entire plant is toxic (roots and the base of the stalks being the most poisonous) and needless to say it affects the central nervous system. It can grow 3-8 feet tall, although it may not grow straight up but be tangled among other brush and weeds nearer the ground. Water hemlock tends to like it's feet weet, so think wet meadows, swamps, and shoreline thickets. One distinguishing characteristic of water hemlock is that the veins of the leaf end in the space between the teeth of the leaf. A saying to help you remember, "Vein to the tip, all is hip. Vein in the cut, pain in the gut."
The second most poisonsous plant is poison hemlock, Conium maculatum. In case you didn't know, a strong tea of this plant was allegedly used to execute Socrates. The leaves and stems are the most poisonous but the whole plant should be avoided. Poison hemlock also affects the nervous system and sends the body into paralysis with death following shortly. Poison hemlock can be found in moist soils, roadsides, fields, and disturbed soils. A distinguishing characteristic of this plant are the purple smudges and spots on the stems.
Both water hemlock and poison hemlock are in the carrot family (sometimes referred to as the parsley family). Not all plants in the carrot/parsley family are poisonous. In fact, we use many of these plants in cooking. Examples are dill, parsley, celery, coriander, and fennel. From an herbalist's perspective, these plants promote digestion and manage fevers. This plant family includes many other plants that are native to our area including wild parsnip (which causes a burn-like rash), Queen Anne's Lace, and others. Since many of these plants look similar it is very important to learn to distinguish them from each other to avoid poisoning yourself or your livestock. Characteristics of the carrot family include compound umbels, hollow stems, 5 sepals, 5 petals, 5 stamen, and a 2-celled ovary.
Water hemlock and poison hemlock are serious. You should be too. Know your plants.
Resources for further exploration and pictures:
https://www.plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CIMA2
https://www.plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=COMA2
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/poison-hemlock
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/water-hemlock
https://www.eddmaps.org/midwest/Species/subject.cfm?sub=4365
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5410121.pdf
https://wiki.bugwood.org/Conium_maculatum
HerbMentor course "Learning Your Plants" https://herbmentor.learningherbs.com
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