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| CREDIT: healthline.com If eaten, hemlock can be toxic. And now it's spreading through parks, backyards, and flower beds. Poison hemlock looks like Queen Anne's Lace, and can always be spotted in highway right-of-ways, along fences, and on the edges of farm fields. Within the last year, the plant that originated in Europe has spread to more populated areas. Dan Shaver from Indiana's National Resources Conservation Service has said, "That movement is a bit scary to me because this plant is very toxic and it's more of an opportunity for kids to play with it and pets to eat it. It is not a plant you want around your home or in your local park." This toxic plant can be found in almost every U.S. state. This is the time of year the plant spreads, producing up to 30,000 seeds, that generally ripen during late June and August after the plant flowers. The seeds are then easily scattered. Poison does well in little unmanaged pockets such as unmowed street corners or pollinator habitats. It also does well in moist soil conditions. "It just hit this exponential rate of speed. Poison hemlock was nowhere and all of a sudden it was everywhere." Senior ecologist with Eco Logic, Kevin Tungesvick, has said the plant has spread too widely in Indiana and can't be eradicated. The goal is to try and manage and control poison hemlock to the greatest extent possible. The hemlock is extremely dangerous and fatal if ingested. It doesn't matter which part of the plant is ingested. It all is toxic. Signs of poisoning can including trembling, salivation, pupil dilation, muscle paralysis, and loss of speech. There is no antidote. Symptoms can arrive as early as 30 minutes after ingestion, and severity depends on the amount ingested and the concentration of the plant at the time. Even small amounts can be serious. Poison hemlock can also be mixed within other pastures and crops resulting in pets and other animals ingesting it. The leaves can easily be mistaken for parsley. The seeds look similar to those of anise and the roots look similar to those of parsnips. During the first year, it released a clump of lacy leaves that grow close to the ground. During the second year, it has a flowering stem that can grow between 4 and 6 feet. Some may even be taller. Once flowered, it looks like a giant Queen Anne's Lace. It has tiny white flowers at the top, the stem is bigger, and the stalk has dotted purple spots. You can find it along any major roadways, the edge of fields and fences, the banks of streams, and in ditches. After two years, the hemlock dies but not before releasing thousands of tiny seeds. If hemlock is spotted the best thing to do is contact the agency in charge of the property. If found in your own backyard, you can remove it yourself. Wear protective gear such as gloves, eyewear, and long sleeves. Spring is the best time for management. There are certain herbicides that can be used but they must be applied before the plant flowers. |
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