Poison Parsley
Aethusa cynapium
45.0807, 13.6391
Field Notes
Description:
It has a fusiform root and a smooth hollow branched stem growing to about 80 cm high, with much divided (ternately pinnate) smooth leaves with an unpleasant smell, and small compound umbels of small irregular white flowers.
Habitat:
It is native to Europe, western Asia and northwest Africa.
Notes:
It is the only member of the genus Aethusa.
Poisoning from it showed symptoms of heat in the mouth and throat and a post-mortem examination showed redness of the lining membrane of the gullet and windpipe and slight congestion of the duodenum and stomach. Since some toxins are destroyed by drying, hay containing the plant is not poisonous. Symptoms of poisoning are heat in the mouth and throat.
Reference Links:
Aethusa cynapium
Species ID Suggestions
Spotted for Missions
Photographed
PublishedMarch 13, 2012
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