Tractors and wood! Show your pics

[thclimer]

Wow, that Poison Hemlock sounds like nasty stuff.

 

[WinterDeere]

Upon human consumption, nausea, vomiting, and tremors occur within 30–60 minutes...

Well, I guess that answers my question about whether anyone has ever accidentally consumed it. They got that data from somewhere!

 

[John_Mc]

Wow, that Poison Hemlock sounds like nasty stuff.

Poison Hemlock and Water Hemlock are two different plants. Though I believe they are related, and I think have similar toxins. (And people sometimes refer to them both as Poison Hemlock.)

We found a bit of Water Hemlock in a park/natural area in our town while a group of community volunteers were pulling Wild Parsnip (a.k.a. "Poison Parsnip"). Its just beyond the outfield of a Little League ballfield and an area where the nearby elementary school often has outings with the kids. We pulled all we could find, and notified the school nurse that it was in the area, suggesting she review the symptoms of Water Hemlock poisoning.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Be careful with that stuff, Gordon. If that is Cicuta maculata (Water Hemlock or "Spotted Water Hemlock), it is extremely toxic. It is thought to be the most toxic plant in North America, and is found throughout the US and Canada.

Ingestion of even small amounts in humans can be fatal. From the Wikipedi entry: "Upon human consumption, nausea, vomiting, and tremors occur within 30–60 minutes, followed by severe cramps, projectile vomiting, and convulsions. Occasional long-term effects include retrograde amnesia. Ingestion of water hemlock in any quantity can result in death or permanent damage to the central nervous system." The toxic reaction has been reported merely from skin contact with the plant, including cases where children have been killed. The stuff is so fast acting that even if the cause is known, someone can be dead or permanently impaired before you can get them to a hospital. Ingestion of the plant by grazing livestock has caused death in as little as 15 minutes.

I was careful for sure. I found those plants and took the pictures back in 2012. They had already flowered. There were about a dozen plants in the area. I cut the stems and treated them with glyphosate. The next year there were only two small plants. I did the same treatment and have not seen any more since.

gg

 

[walhondingMF]

I have become paranoid of the stuff. I have pointed out to 3 neighbors that they have it and how to handle it. I notice it all along interstate 70 now.

 

[Duds13]

I thought giant hogweed was bad until reading this about poison hemlock

 

[WinterDeere]

I thought giant hogweed was bad until reading this about poison hemlock

Return of the Giant Hogweed! Some old-school Genesis, anyone?

Bonus points to anyone under 50 who recognizes that singer.

 

[Duds13]

Return of the Giant Hogweed! Some old-school Genesis, anyone?

Bonus points to anyone under 50 who recognizes that singer.

I'm not much over 50 but easily recognize that singer. I was a Genesis fanatic growing up!

 

[WinterDeere]

I'm not much over 50 but easily recognize that singer. I was a Genesis fanatic growing up!

He looks just a wee bit different, today.

 

[Duds13]

He looks just a wee bit different, today.

HA! so true!