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Poison hemlock stems have a purplish tinge. It’s suggested that you don’t even touch it. Another warning: they tend to grow near water/river banks and often fo
by jelliclesfarm 5y ago
Poison hemlock stems have a purplish tinge. It’s suggested that you don’t even touch it.
Another warning: they tend to grow near water/river banks and often found near mugwort. A few years ago, we’d have visitors who came to forage mugwort and elderberries ..and one of the kids spotted hemlock and thought it was Queen Anne’s Lace. I had to deny entry after that..they bought kids and the liability wasn’t worth it. Those who forage must absolutely know how ti is which toxic/poison plants.
- Mister_X 5y agoYeah, poison hemlock is not to be messed with at all. I have acute intermittent porphyria (a serious metabolic disorder) and was on a wild edible plant walk about 25 years ago on the Mendocino coast, the host pointed to something that looked like dill to my untrained eye but I didn't hear what they said about it. So I picked some and sniffed the broken stem, then I blacked out and immediately collapsed and it took me about 20 minutes before I could talk, stand and walk again (very shakily). It's quite a potent Poison to be sure, and now I Never pick and smell plants I don't recognize anymore (DOH!). And I agree with jelliclesfarm that it shouldn't even be touched, as the "juice" if rubbed into the eyes unconsciously would be bad news for anyone.