I2Q4 



Rural School Leaflet 



umbel the flowers are on short stalks which radiate from a common 

 stem, while many of these clusters are on stalks which in turn radiate 

 from a common point. The fruits are composed of two dry, seed-like 

 structures cohering by their inner faces. 



5. Poison hemlock, stinkweed, spotted poison parsley, herb bennet 

 (Conium maculatum, L.). This member of the parsley family grows to a 



height of two to six feet. It grows 

 7^7 frequently in moist waste places and has 

 a root stalk which resembles a sweet 

 potato in shape. The stems are hollow 

 and are coarsely spotted with red splash- 

 ings. 



The leaves of poison hemlock are 

 large, many times compound, and 

 widely spreading. The stalks 

 of the leaves, or petioles, clasp 

 the stem with a very pro- 

 nounced sheath. The leaflets 

 are comparatively small and 

 are acutely and deeply cut on the 

 margins. The flowers are white and are 

 clustered terminally in a dense compound 

 umbel. The fruits are somewhat flattened 

 and each seed has five lateral ribs. 



It is supposed that it was a tincture of 

 poison hemlock that Socrates drank. All 

 parts are presumably poisonous, although it 

 is stated that some persons have eaten the 

 plant without ill effects. Paralysis followed 

 by death without pain is the usual result of 

 eating the plant. 



6. Golden Alexanders, meadow parsnip, golden parsnip, round heart 

 {Zizia aurea, [L.] Koch). This member of the parsley family is found com- 

 monly in meadows and woods. It differs from the other species mentioned 

 in having deep yellow flowers, which are borne in a compact umbel. The 

 leaves are comparatively short, while the leaflets are comparatively 

 broad. The fruits are about one fourth inch long and rather slender. 

 This is probably not so venomous a poison as the poison hemlock or the 

 water hemlock. 



7. Water hemlock, snakeweed, beaver poison, musquash root, spotted 

 cowbane, children's bane, death of man (Cicuta maculata, L.). This plant 

 is often mistaken for some other plant and is eaten unintentionally. 



Poison sumac 

 (See page IQ4) 



