Cowbane Cicuta maculata
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- sih-KYOO-tah mak-yoo-LAY-tah
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Water Hemlock is a perennial herb with short tuberous roots and purple-striped or mottled, hollow stems with cross-partitions at the nodes and many of these at the base of the stem. Its leaves are alternate, clasp the stem, are 2-3 pinnately divided, and have leaflets with the veins ending in the notch between the teeth. These veins distinguish the Water Hemlock from other members of the Carrot family.
In its first year, it will be in the form of a low-growing rosette. Maturing in the second year, it will develop a tall stalk, growing to up to 8'.
The tiny flowers are small, white, and form in umbrella-like clusters. They bloom from spring to fall, attracting a variety of bee, wasp and butterfly species. It is a host plant for the Black swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes).
Although all parts of the plant are highly toxic, however, water birds do eat the fruits without effect.
Site: Wet meadows, thickets, fresh water swamps, roadside ditches, floodplains
Found in: Forest or natural area in wet areas, pond, stream, or ditch banks.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN! All parts of the plant are poisonous, with the roots more poisonous than the other parts. Ingestion of a small portion of the roots can be fatal. The toxin in this plant is called cicutoxin. It can lead to delirium, nausea, convulsions, stomach pain, vomiting and seizures, all typically occurring within 60 minutes after ingestion.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cicuta
- Species:
- maculata
- Family:
- Apiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Naturalized areas
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Wildlife Value:
- The nectar from the flowers attracts a variety of bees, wasps, flies, moths, butterflies, and a variety of other insects that have short mouth parts. It is a host plant for the Black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) butterfly. The fruits that are produced are eaten by water birds.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Edibility:
- All parts of the plant are toxic when eaten.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Each fruit contains 2 seeds. They do not split open when ripe.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Compound umbels can form on the upper portion of the stems. Reaching up to 6", each umbels can have 10-20 dome shaped umbellets. The individual umbellets can have up to 15 flowers. The tiny, 1/8" flowers may have a slight fragrance.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The lower compound leaves are up to 1 ft., doubly divided with veins ending at notches between the teeth. They are smooth, erect highly branched stem. The upper leaves are somewhat smaller than the lower leaves. Individual leaflets are up to 4" long and 1 1/4" wide.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Purple-striped or mottled, hollow stems with cross-partitions at the nodes and many of these at the base of the stem. May have longitudinal veins.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN! Muscle spasms, dilated pupils, dizziness, diarrhea, stomach pain, convulsions. Seizures, tremors, fever, bloat, respiratory depression
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Cicutoxin and cicutol
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Seeds
- Stems
