Hemlock
|
Botanical Name |
Conium maculatum |
|
Family |
Apiaceae |
|
Other Names |
Beaver poison, herb bennet, keckies, musquash root, poison parsley, poison hemlock, spotted cowbane, spotted hemlock, vecksies, vex |
|
Habitat |
Waysides, roadsides, streams, waste ground, woods |
|
Description |
Biennial, hairless up to 1.5m/5ft stems: erect, branched, purple hollow, spotted fowl smelling when crushed Feathery foliage Flowers small white umbels June – August Fruit, tiny, rounded |
|
Native to |
Europe, Britain |
|
Parts Used |
Leaves, fruit, seeds |
|
Actions |
Anodyne, sedative |
|
Constituents |
Alkaloids, notably coniine, gamma coniceine, methylconiine, conhydrin, pseudoconhydrin, N-methylpseudoconhydrin. Volatile oil -myrcene essential oil, bitters, flavone-glycosides |
|
Other Notes |
It was the poison used in state executions in Ancient Greece. It’s most famous victim was Socrates It was used in the Mysteries performed by Eleusis including the Sacred marriage It has also been used in witch’s flying ointments in spells for destroying enemies. It is rubbed onto ritual knives and swords Conium is derived from the Greek word “koneion” which may be derived from “konos” meaning kone. Maculatum signifies spotted Planet: Saturn Element: Water |
|
Caution |
Toxic |