There have been many beautiful plants I have seen along the GAP trail but along one section in particular there was a surfeit of one of the most deadly ones: Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum.) It is a beautiful plant but extremely deadly as even the smallest amount can kill a person. It is the plant that Socrates drank to kill himself.
It is often confused with the more benign Queen Anne’s Lace (QAL) or more commonly called wild carrot. It can be eaten and its seeds have been used by midwives and women for centuries as an anti-fertility drug. I saw lots of it a few days ago but none in the last day.
Hemlock is often larger and more the more spectacular specimen of the two. Hemlock has a smooth stem, while QAL’s is hairy. Its root has an extremely unpleasant odor while the root of QAL smells and tastes like carrot.
This deadly plant looked so innocent growing among a wall of rhododendrons and mountain laurel. Its cream, large flower was lovely agains the backdrop of evergreen leaves. It is also a fascinating plant in all of its different flowing stages. I love the way it looks! But it is one those quirks of nature whose loveliness masks its true purpose. We keep moving up the hill.
