46 



MISC. PUBLICATION 77, TJ. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



POISON HEMLOCK 





Conium maculatum L. (Fig. 85.) 



Other common names. — Spotted parsley, spotted cowbane, poison parsley, 

 St.- Bennet's-herb, bad-man' s-oatmeal, wode-whistle, cashes, bunk, heck-how, 

 poison root, spotted hemlock, spotted conium, poison snakeweed, beaver poison. 



Habitat and range. — This poisonous weed is occasional in waste places and 

 along roadsides, principally in the Eastern States. 



Description. — Poison hemlock is a very dangerous weed, the close resemblance 

 of the leaves to those of parsley often causing it to be mistaken for the latter 

 with fatal results, all parts of the plant being extremely poisonous. It has a 

 smooth, hollow, purple-spotted stem about 2 to 6 feet in height with much- 

 branched, and large, parsleylike leaves. In June or July it produces showy, 

 flat-topped clusters of small white flowers. The fruit, which ripens in August 

 and September, is grayish green and about an eighth of an inch in length. The 

 entire plant has a disagreeable, mouselike odor which is especially noticeable 

 when the plant is bruised. 



Part used. — The fruit, collected when fully developed but still green, care- 

 fully dried and stored in tight containers to protect it from air and light. It is 

 of no value after it has been kept more than two years. The leaves are also 

 used to some extent. In limited demand onlv. 



Figure 85.— Poison hemlock (Conium 

 maculatum) 



Figure 86.— Pokeberry (Phytolacca 

 americana) 



POKEBERRY 



Phytolacca americana L. (Fig. 8b.) 



Synonym. — Phytolacca decandra L. 



Other common names. — Poke, pigeon berry, garget, scoke, pocan, coakum, 

 Virginia poke, inkberry, red inkberry, American nightshade, cancer jalap, 

 red weed. 



Habitat and range. — Pokeweed, a common, familiar, native weed, is found 

 in rich, moist soil along fence rows, fields, and uncultivated land from the New 

 England States to Minnesota and south to Florida and Texas. 



Description. — The stout, smooth stems of this plant, arising from a very 

 large root, reach a height of from 3 to 9 feet, and are erect and branched, green 

 at first, then reddish. The smooth leaves are borne on short stems and are 

 about 5 inches long and 2 to 3 inches wide. The long-stalked clusters of whitish 

 flowers, which appear from July to September, are from 3 to 4 inches in length, 

 and the flowers are numerous and borne on reddish stems. The berries which 

 follow and mature in about two months have a rich dark-purple color, are round- 

 ish with flattened ends, and contain shiny black seeds embedded in a rich crimson 

 juice. Pokeweed has a very thick, long, fleshy, conical, branching root which 

 is poisonous. 



Part used. — The root, collected in late autumn, is sliced and dried; also, but 

 to a less extent, the ripe berries. In reasonably constant demand. 





