Misidentifying poison hemlock as an edible plant can be a costly mistake when out summer foraging

Poison hemlock grows just about everywhere & is in the same family as fennel, parsley, carrot, & more All parts of this plant are poisonous & toxic to humans

The best way to identify poison hemlock is by its stem — hairless, hollow, and almost always has distinctive purplish-red splotching or streaking

Poison hemlock has rounded clusters of 5 petal flowers. Afterward, they form small green fruits with wavy ribs that contain highly poisonous seeds

Poison hemlock flowers grow on branched stalks that can be up to 8-10 feet high

The leave look like those of parsley & wild carrot — opposite and compound, hairless, lacy, & triangular in shape. When crushed they emit an unpleasant musty smell

Poison hemlock has many edible look-alikes, namely, wild carrot (Queen Anne's lace)

As well as, yarrow (pictured), angelica, cow parsnip, cow parsley, wild fennel, elderflower & more