W52 

 (leaf 2) 



roots, although important, does not afford an infallible means of distinguishing 

 waterhemlocks from nonpoisouous genera. In fact, some angelicas have simi- 

 larly prominent cross-partitions. During spring, when maximum danger of 

 poisoning obtains, the partitions are often not clearly discernible ; 4 they are 

 often absent or very indistinct in the younger roots. The small, white flowers 

 of waterhemlocks are borne in compound, umbrellalike clusters (umbels) with- 

 out bracts, or only a few, at the base of the rays of the entire cluster, but 

 usually having some small, slender bractlets at the base of the stalks (pedicels) 

 of each secondary cluster (umbellets). The flowers have five broad petals 

 with incurved tips; the five pointed, toothlike outer flower parts (calyx lobes) 

 are fairly prominent. The hairless, ribbed, oblong or ovoid, seedlike fruits are 

 slightly flattened ; a single oil tube is conspicuous in the intervals between the 

 ribs. One species, bulbous waterhemlock (C. bulM'fcra), ranging from Nova 

 Scotia and Maryland to Nebraska and Idaho, produces clustered bulblets in the 

 axils of the upper, reduced leaves. Most species begin to bloom in June or July. 



POISONOUS 



FIGURE 1. Flower cluster, or umbel (diagrammatic) of waterhemlock as contrasted with 

 those of the harmless angelica, sweetroot. and woollyhead-parsnip. 



POISONOUS 



HARMLESS 



Cicuta 



Angelica 



Osmorhiza ' Sphenosciadium 



UK '2. Fruits, or "seeds" (diagrammatic) of waterhomlock as contrasted with those 

 of the harmless angelica, sweetroot, and woollyhead-parsnip. 



4 See footnote on preceding page. 



