Cicuta maculata is toxic to cats, dogs and horses. The reported severity is critical. Also known as Water Hemlock, Common Water-Hemlock and Victorin's Water-Hemlock.
This plant is known to be potentially deadly!
If your animal ate this plant, call your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control on (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline on (855) 764-7661. Fees may apply.
Diarrhea Seizures Tremors Abdominal Pain Dilated Pupils Fever Bloat Respiratory Depression Death
The color of each symptom follows the severity scale above.
Cicuta maculata is a highly poisonous species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by several common names, including spotted water hemlock, spotted parsley, and spotted cowbane. It is native to nearly all of North America, from northern Canada to southern Mexico.
The confusion with parsnips can be fatal as C. maculata is extremely poisonous. It is considered to be North America's most toxic native plant. Cicuta is fatal when swallowed, causing violent and painful convulsions. Though a number of people have died from water hemlock poisoning over the centuries, livestock have long been the worst affected (hence the name "cowbane"), with ingestion of the plant causing death in as little as 15 minutes. The chief poison is cicutoxin, an unsaturated aliphatic alcohol that is most concentrated in the roots. Upon human consumption, nausea, vomiting, and tremors occur within 30–60 minutes, followed by severe cramps, projectile vomiting, and convulsions. Occasional long-term effects include retrograde amnesia. Ingestion of water hemlock in any quantity can result in death or permanent damage to the central nervous system.
Also recorded as Common Water Hemlock, Musquashroot, Poison Parsnip, Spotted Cowbane, Spotted Parsley and Spotted Water Hemlock.
More from the Apiaceae family:
Countries with the most wild observations, from GBIF data.