Bulb-bearing Water Hemlock Cicuta bulbifera

Other common names: Bulblet-bearing Water Hemlock, Bulbous Water Hemlock French names: Cicutaire bulbifère Family: Parsley Family (Apiaceae) Group: Water Hemlocks Distinctive features: Spindly plant. Leaves narrow and finely divided. Wet areas. Stem hollow. Similar species:   •   Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata) - leaves are quite different (not fine/feathery); shares the same habitat; also deadly poisonous.   •   Water Parsnip (Sium suave) - leaves very different; shares the same habitat; edible.   •   Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) - grows in dry areas; edible; smells like carrots.   •   Japanese Hedge Parsley (Torilis japonica) - grows in drier fields.   •   Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum) - leaves are not narrow.   •   Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) - A tree; similar in name only; no relation; not poisonous. See the Ontario Trees & Shrubs website. Flowers: Summer;  White;  5 parts (petals);  Sparse, white, in an umbel (an umbrella-shaped cluster) about 1-2" wide. Individual flowers about 1/8" wide, with 5 petals and 5 stamens. Leaves: Alternate, Toothed;  Widely spaced alternate compound leaves have very narrow leaflets. Leaflets up to 3" long. Widely spaced ragged teeth. Tiny bulblets occur in the axils (where a leaflet joins the stem). Height: 1-2 m (3-6 ft) Stem: Widely spaced branches.Hollow. Habitat: Wet Areas;  Wet open areas such as marshes, along shores, and sometimes open swamps. Poisonous: ***DEADLY POISONOUS***. Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 222    Peterson's Field Guide to Wildflowers: 48    ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario: 125    Native/Non-native: Native Notes: Read about Water Hemlocks. Origin and Meaning of Names:  Scientific Name: bulbifera: bearing bulbs Photographs: 134 photographs available, of which 9 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS. Range Map is at the bottom of the page

Wildflowers ● Water Hemlocks