Cicuta douglasii
2230092
218399635
2008-06-10T14:01:15Z
Qatter
2457620
links
{{Cleanup|date=October 2006}}
{{Taxobox
| name = ''Cicuta douglasii''
| image = Cicuta_douglasii.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Apiales]]
| familia = [[Apiaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Cicuta]]''
| species = '''''C. douglasii'''''
| binomial = ''Cicuta douglasii''
| binomial_authority = (DC.) Coult. & Rose
}}
'''''Cicuta douglasii''''' ('''Western water hemlock''') is a [[poisonous plant]] in the family [[Apiaceae]]. It is a [[perennial plant]] that grows in wet places such as marshes, stream banks, slough margins, ditches, meadows, and wet pastures<ref name="weedsbc">{{cite_web|url=http://www.weedsbc.ca/weed_desc/water_hem.html|title=Water hemlock, Cicuta douglasii|author=Weeds BC|date=2005-07-13}}</ref> <ref name="agfood">{{cite_web|url=http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/DOCS/crops/integrated_pest_management/weed_identification_broadleaf_weeds/whemlock.asp|title=Western water hemlock|author=Saskatchewan Agriculture and food|date=2005-07-13}}</ref>. The roots of this plant are thick and tuberous, with many smaller tubers coming from the main tuber<ref name="block">{{cite web|url=http://www.usask.ca/agriculture/plantsci/classes/range/cicuta.html|title=Cicuta douglasii (DC.) Coult. & Rose|author=Block, N. (n.d.).|date=2005-07-13}}</ref>. This root structure allows the water hemlock to adapt and survive wet conditions. Water hemlock is most abundant in [[British Columbia]]<ref name="weedsbc" />, and is indigenous to [[North America]]<ref name="block" />. In North America it primarily grows from the base of the [[Rocky Mountains]] to the Pacific coast, stretching all the way from [[Alaska]] down to [[California]]. Water necessities limit this plant from growing in open rangelands<ref name="block" />.
The characteristics of water hemlock include its stem which is 0.5-2 meters tall with purplish spots, thick roots, and leaves that are compound pinnate and alternate<ref name="agfood" />. The leaflets are usually 5-8 cm long and 1-2 cm wide with jagged edges<ref name="block" />. The flowers on it are compound umbellate inflorescences with many small, white flowers<ref name="block" />. There are two seeds for each flower. Seed dispersal for water hemlock seeds comes from means of wind, water, machinery, on clothing, and through transported soil<ref name="weedsbc" />. The seeds germinate in spring, and flowers mature near the end of June and beginning of July<ref name="block" />. In addition to sprouting new plants from seeds, rootstocks can also product new plants. These are formed in the fall from the basal meristem, and when they detach the following spring, they may form a new plant.
The main distinguishable characteristic of western water hemlock is its toxicity. [[Cicutoxin]] is the [[toxin]] that is produced by the water hemlock, making it the most poisonous plant in North America. Cicutoxin is a yellowish liquid that is prevalent in the roots. It is an unsaturated alcohol that has a major impact on the central nervous system of animals. Early symptoms of cicutoxin poisoning include excessive salivation, frothing at the mouth, nervousness, and incoordination. These symptoms can turn into tremors, muscular weakness, seizures and respiratory failure<ref name="block" />. Very small amounts of this poison, about .1% of a person’s body weight can even lead to death<ref name="minag">{{cite web|url=http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/whemlock.htm Western water hemlock|title=Western water hemlock|author=Ministry of agriculture, food & fisheries|date=2005-07-13}}</ref>. In addition to being extremely dangerous to humans, this plant has an enormous impact on animals. It is one of the first plants to come out in springtime, and has a very appealing odor<ref name="block" />. As little as 0.2%-0.5% body weight for sheep, 0.1% body weight for cattle, 0.5% body weight for horses, and 0.3% body weight for swine can be lethal. Death can occur within fifteen minutes of ingesting this toxin. These characteristics, along with the fact that it grows in moist areas make it a very desirable, yet deadly plant for grazing animals.
Although this is a very lethal plant, there are a couple things that can be done to avoid the dangers of it. The only way to prevent animals from consuming the water hemlock is to prevent animals from grazing in areas where it is abundant, or to pull the plant from areas where livestock will be grazing. For humans, if this plant is consumed, there is very little time to react. However, if water hemlock is consumed, injections of pentobarbital, morphine, and potassium permanganate have shown some success<ref name="block" />.
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Apiaceae]]
[[es:Cicuta douglasii]]