What is Hemlock?

The general name "Hemlock" is used to indicate several different trees and plants with a number of different properties. Hemlocks can be found naturally growing in many areas of the world and some are intentionally cultivated as ornamental plants. Since this common name is applied to a number of plants, botanists tend to use scientific names when they talk about hemlocks to avoid confusion. All these families contain plants that are toxic, and Hemlocks look very similar. Their leaves are similar to green carrots and their flowers grow in white rainwives. Many haemlocks are very open and branching and can grow quite large. Some have stems stains with purple.

Conium is probably the most famous family, because the plants of this family were once used for executions, perhaps especially in ancient Greece, where Hemlock was provided to the philosopher SocratesovI, when he was sentenced to death. This genus is also sometimes referred to as parsley, seen hemlock or spotted corobane. Rod Cicuta or water hemlocks, also known as Cowbane or Poison Parsnip, is also highly toxic and several types of oenanthe , known as a drop of water, is also poisonous. However, some are also used for food, which is particularly important to distinguish between different species in this genus to prevent the gathering of incorrect plants for the dining table.

Poison Hemlock usually does not live, because in areas where it grows wildly, people who eat wild plants are familiar with the appearance and sharp aroma of Hemlock and know to avoid it. However, animals sometimes eat Hemlock and can become velminate. Repeated exposure to Hemlock can lead to death in grazing animals such as cattle and horses. For this reason, farmers control their fields for Hemlock and other toxic plants before the animal is released.

completely unrelated genus, tsuga , is also known as Hemlock. The genus contains a number of species that are grown as ornamental trees. The name "Hemlock" is used for these trees because it smells somewhat like a poisonous kind of discussed above. However, they are not toxic and are perfectly safe for growth as ornaments, although they may tend to steal water from neighboring plants, so they should be placed carefully in the garden.