''Conium'' ( or ) is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...
s in the family
Apiaceae
Apiaceae or Umbelliferae is a family of mostly aromatic flowering plants named after the type genus ''Apium'' and commonly known as the celery, carrot or parsley family, or simply as umbellifers. It is the 16th-largest family of flowering plants ...
. ,
Plants of the World Online
Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was launched in March 2017 with the ultimate aim being "to enable users to access information on all the world's known seed-bearing plants by ...
accepts six species.
[
All species of the genus are poisonous to humans. ''C. maculatum'', also known as hemlock, is infamous for being highly poisonous. Hemlock is native to temperate regions of Europe, North Africa and Western Asia. The species ''C. chaerophylloides'', ''C. fontanum'', and ''C. sphaerocarpum'' are all native to southern Africa.
]
Description
Plants of the genus ''Conium'' are eudicots, flowering plants distinguished by their two cotyledons (embryonic leaves) and tricoplate (three-pored) pollen. They are typically biennial, forming basal rosettes in the first year of growth, and sprouting a rigid, hollow flower stalk in the second. Germination occurs between spring and autumn. Occasionally, plants which germinate in early spring are annual instead of biennial. These plants grow best in wet, poorly drained areas with nutrient rich soil. They grow well in nitrogen rich soil, and are able to tolerate high levels of heavy metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, and lead. ''Conium'' plants are diploid, with a chromosome number of 2n = 22 (haploid number 11). They grow from one to three meters tall, varying between species. They produce hermaphroditic flowers, which are typically insect pollinated or self-fertilized.
Stems
''Conium'' plants are herbaceous, growing non-woody, hollow, and hairless stems. Generally, the stem is striated and light green; however, the coloring varies by species and variety. Some express purple blotching throughout, some have purple blotching localized near the base, and others have no markings at all.
Leaves
The alternate leaves are pinnately compound and finely divided, with the exact pinnation patterns varying between species and leaf type. For example, stem leaves of ''C. maculatum'' plants are typically 2-4 pinnate, but basal leaves are 1-3 pinnate. The leaves and petioles are light green. Similar to the stem coloring, some species and varieties express purple blotching on the leaves and petioles.
Flowers
Terminal inflorescences are made up of many small flowers, colored white, yellow, or green depending on the species. The flowers are grouped together in umbrella shaped umbels. Plants in the genus ''Conium'' have compound umbels, with multiple dome shaped clusters branching out from a central point. Flowers are around 2 mm across, and the umbrella shaped umbels range from 1–8 cm in diameter.
Fruits
The two seeded fruit is one of the most significant distinguishing factors between species. They are relatively round, slightly flattened, and dark green or brown. Depending on the species, they range from 2.5 to 4 mm long. Some species have distinctive light brown ribs, some have ribs that are noticeably crenulate (scalloped edges), and others show relatively unpronounced rib patterns.
Seeds
Each plant typically produces between 1,700 and 39,000 seeds, and 40-85% will germinate in suitable conditions. However, seeds will remain viable for 3 to 6 years after dispersal. Producing a large number of seeds, and growing in a variety of locations, these plants can be considered invasive in some cases.
Chemical composition
Poisonous alkaloid compounds are present in all tissues of ''Conium'' plants. As a flower develops into a fruit and matures, the alkaloids present transform from γ-coniceine, to coniine
Coniine is a poisonous chemical compound, an alkaloid present in and isolable from poison hemlock ('' Conium maculatum''), where its presence has been a source of significant economic, medical, and historico-cultural interest; coniine is also prod ...
, and finally to N-methylconiine
''N''-Methylconiine is a poisonous alkaloid found in poison hemlock in small quantities.
Isolation and properties
The -(+)-stereoisomer of ''N''-methylconiine is reported to occur in hemlock in small quantities, and methods for its isolation a ...
. When ingested, these compounds interrupt the central nervous system, paralyzing respiratory muscles, and finally resulting in death through respiratory failure.
Species differentiation from other plants
Members of the genus ''Conium'' can be easily confused with edible plants of the family Apiaceae. ''Conium'' plants have leaves similar to parsley
Parsley, or garden parsley (''Petroselinum crispum'') is a species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae that is native to the central and eastern Mediterranean region (Sardinia, Lebanon, Israel, Cyprus, Turkey, southern Italy, Greece, Por ...
(''Petroselinum crispum'') and roots similar to parsnip
The parsnip (''Pastinaca sativa'') is a root vegetable closely related to carrot and parsley, all belonging to the flowering plant family Apiaceae. It is a biennial plant usually grown as an annual. Its long taproot has cream-colored skin an ...
(''Pastinaca sativa''). However, a few characteristics can be used to distinguish the poisonous ''Conium'' plants from other harmless Apiaceae plants. For example, ''Conium'' leaves and stems release a foul odor when crushed. Additionally, the species ''C. maculatum'' stands out with its purple blotching pattern.
Taxonomy
The genus name "Conium" references the Greek ''koneios'' word for 'spin' or 'whirl', alluding to the dizzying effects of the plant's poison after ingestion. In the vernacular, "hemlock" most commonly refers to the species ''C. maculatum'', but it also refers to ''Cicuta
''Cicuta'', commonly known as water hemlock, is a genus of four species of highly poisonous plants in the family Apiaceae. They are perennial herbaceous plants which grow up to tall, having distinctive small green or white flowers arranged in a ...
'' species (water hemlock), where both species are similar in physical features, and both are highly toxic.
The genus ''Conium'' was erected by Carl Linnaeus
Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the ...
in 1753.[ Several botanists, such as J.F.M. Cannon, G.H. Leute, and J.H. Ross, have historically made the argument that southern African species of ''Conium'' has few significant distinctions. Some even claim that the genus has no independent species at all. They argue that the populations in southern Africa "may be the result of the chance introduction of a few individuals which represented genetically a very limited range of the total variability of the species." Some believe that each species of ''Conium'' is synonymous to ''C. maculatum''. Others believe that there are two to three distinct southern African species of ''Conium''.]
History
''Conium maculatum'', also known as poison hemlock, was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1753 publication, Species Plantarum
' (Latin for "The Species of Plants") is a book by Carl Linnaeus, originally published in 1753, which lists every species of plant known at the time, classified into genera. It is the first work to consistently apply binomial names and was the ...
. It was the first described species within the genus. "Maculatum" means spotted, referencing the purple blotches characteristic of this species.
''Conium chaerophylloides'' was described by Danish plant collector Christian Friedrich Ecklon
Christian Friedrich Ecklon (17 December 1795 – 1 December 1868) was a Denmark, Danish botany, botanical collector and apothecary. Ecklon is especially known for being an avid collector and researcher of plants in South Africa.
Biography
Ecklon ...
(1795-1868) and German botanist Karl Ludwig Philipp Zeyher
Karl Ludwig Philipp Zeyher (2 August 1799 Dillenburg, Hessen, Germany – 13 December 1858 Cape Town), was a botanical and insect collector who collected extensively in South Africa. He was the author, with Christian Friedrich Ecklon, of ''Enumer ...
. In 1828, they came together in South Africa, forming a partnership. For the next decade, they built their collection, describing almost 2000 genera and species.
Both ''C. fontanum'' and ''C. sphaerocarpum'' were described by South African botanist Olive Mary Hilliard
Olive Mary Hilliard ( Hillary, 4 July 1925 – 30 November 2022) was a South African botanist and taxonomist. Hilliard authored 372 land plant species names, the fifth-highest number of such names authored by any female scientist.
Hilliard was bo ...
and English botanist Brian Laurence Burtt
Brian Laurence "Bill" Burtt FRSE FLS (27 August 1913 – 30 May 2008), was an English botanist and taxonomist who is noted for his contributions to the family Gesneriaceae. In a career that spanned 74 years, he worked first at the Royal Botanic ...
. Together, they published their classifications in the South African Journal of Botany
The ''South African Journal of Botany'' (Afrikaans title: ''Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir plantkunde'') is a bimonthly peer reviewed scientific journal covering all aspects of botany as related to Southern Africa. It is published by Elsevier on beh ...
in 1985.
Species
, Plants of the World Online
Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was launched in March 2017 with the ultimate aim being "to enable users to access information on all the world's known seed-bearing plants by ...
accepts six species:
*''Conium chaerophylloides
''Conium'' ( or ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apiaceae. , Plants of the World Online accepts six species.
All species of the genus are poisonous to humans. ''C. maculatum'', also known as hemlock, is infamous for being highly ...
'' (Thunb.) Eckl. & Zeyh.
*''Conium divaricatum
''Conium divaricatum'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native to Greece, including Crete
Crete ( el, Κρήτη, translit=, Modern: , Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th la ...
'' Boiss. & Orph.
*''Conium fontanum
''Conium'' ( or ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apiaceae. , Plants of the World Online accepts six species.
All species of the genus are poisonous to humans. ''C. maculatum'', also known as hemlock, is infamous for being highly ...
'' Hilliard & B.L.Burtt
*''Conium hilliburttorum
''Conium'' ( or ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apiaceae. , Plants of the World Online accepts six species.
All species of the genus are poisonous to humans. ''C. maculatum'', also known as hemlock, is infamous for being highly p ...
'' Magee & V.R.Clark
*'' Conium maculatum'' L.
*''Conium sphaerocarpum
''Conium'' ( or ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apiaceae. , Plants of the World Online accepts six species.
All species of the genus are poisonous to humans. ''C. maculatum'', also known as hemlock, is infamous for being highly p ...
'' Hilliard & B.L.Burtt
''Conium chaerophylloides''
''Conium chaerophylloides'', growing two to three meters tall, can be distinguished by its unique yellow-green flowers. Groups of many of these small flowers make up obconic
In botany, an obconic is an inverted cone shape. The term is most frequently applied to certain fruit or hypanthium structures with the apical end attached to the stem; however, less frequently the usage may apply to the pistil structure. In the ca ...
al umbel
In botany, an umbel is an inflorescence that consists of a number of short flower stalks (called pedicels) that spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs. The word was coined in botanical usage in the 1590s, from Latin ''umbella'' "p ...
s. The outer rays (individual flowers) form an angle with the point of attachment, giving the umbel a cone-like shape, which fans out from the base of the inflorescence. They produce round, 4 mm long, dark brown or green fruit, with deep, lightly colored ridges.
''Conium fontanum''
''Conium fontanum'' expresses a similar obconical umbel arrangement, but produces slightly larger fruit, and develops the white flowers characteristic of the other species in the ''Conium'' genus. The fruit is usually larger than 4 mm long, with ridges of the same dark green or brown color as the rest of the ovary. These plants grow one to three meters tall, depending on the variety.
''Conium hilliburttorum''
''Conium hilliburttorum'' has not always been recognized as a distinct species within the genus. Like ''C. sphaerocarpum'', these plants have white flowers grouped in hemispherical umbels and small fruit. However, these researchers argue that the fruit and ovary anatomy significantly distinguish them from ''C. sphaerocarpum''. They develop similar sized fruit; however, ''C. hilliburttorum'' fruit displays prominent ribs, whereas ''C. sphaerocarpum'' fruit is relatively smooth. ''C. hilliburttorum'' ovaries are covered in tubercules, or small lumpy outgrowths, like ''C. chaerophylloides'' fruit. However, ''C. chaerophylloides'' plants have yellow or green flowers, and they grow much larger fruit and are much taller.
''Conium maculatum''
''Conium maculatum'' is distinguished by red or purple blotching along the hairless green stem. Some varieties of the southern African species express a moderate degree of blotching at the base of the stem, but most are simply green. It grows white flowers in umbrella-shaped clusters.
''Conium sphaerocarpum''
''Conium sphaerocarpum'' produces similarly colored, but slightly smaller fruit, less than 3.5 mm long. The ovary is relatively smooth, with almost completely flat, inconspicuous ridges. Additionally, the small white flowers are arranged in hemispherical
A sphere () is a Geometry, geometrical object that is a solid geometry, three-dimensional analogue to a two-dimensional circle. A sphere is the Locus (mathematics), set of points that are all at the same distance from a given point in three ...
umbels. Each umbel’s outer rays protrude horizontally, forming a semi-sphere shape, with the flat edge at the base of the umbel, and the dome pointing away from the point of attachment. This species tends to grow shorter than others within the genus.
Evolution
''Conium'' is a genus within the family Apiaceae. The family Apiaceae originates from Australasia
Australasia is a region that comprises Australia, New Zealand and some neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term is used in a number of different contexts, including geopolitically, physiogeographically, philologically, and ecologica ...
in the Late Cretaceous
The Late Cretaceous (100.5–66 Ma) is the younger of two epochs into which the Cretaceous Period is divided in the geologic time scale. Rock strata from this epoch form the Upper Cretaceous Series. The Cretaceous is named after ''creta'', the ...
period. ''Conium'' is specifically part of the Apioideae
This is a list of genera belonging to the family Apiaceae. It contains all the genera accepted by Plants of the World Online (PoWO) . A few extra genus names are included that PoWO regards as synonyms. Unless otherwise indicated, the placement of ...
subfamily which split off from the other subfamilies of Apiaceae between 45.9 and 71.2 million years ago in southern Africa.
Toxin development
The evolution of toxicity within ''Conium'' plants and within ''Apiaceae'' plants has several theories. ''Apiaceae'' plants contain secondary compounds which are compounds that are often limited to just a family, genus, or a species of plant that varies among those smaller groups and is unlikely to be essential to the day-to-day physiological needs of the plant. These secondary compounds are used to mediate the plants interactions with other organisms, such as the prevention of herbivory
A herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example foliage or marine algae, for the main component of its diet. As a result of their plant diet, herbivorous animals typically have mouthpart ...
. Gottfried S. Fraenkel in 1959 called the distribution of secondary compounds within Apiaceae and other families reciprocal adaptive evolution
In biology, adaptation has three related meanings. Firstly, it is the dynamic evolutionary process of natural selection that fits organisms to their environment, enhancing their evolutionary fitness. Secondly, it is a state reached by the po ...
. Ehrlich and Raven in 1964 called Fraenkel's process coevolution
In biology, coevolution occurs when two or more species reciprocally affect each other's evolution through the process of natural selection. The term sometimes is used for two traits in the same species affecting each other's evolution, as well ...
. They claimed that secondary compounds diversify by emerging as a novel compound that protects a plant from herbivory. Due to this protection from herbivory and mutation or recombination in an insect, the plant can become susceptible to herbivory once more if an insect evolves the means to detoxify or tolerate the toxin created by the secondary compound. With this new trait, the insect has a new adaptive zone with which it can diversify and the plant has a certain set of adapted herbivores. This is seen with ''Conium'', where ''C. maculatum'' has an adaptive herbivore, ''Agonopterix alstromeriana
''Agonopterix'' is a moth genus of the superfamily Gelechioidea. It is placed in the family Depressariidae, which was often – particularly in older treatments – considered a subfamily of the Oecophoridae or included in the Elachi ...
''.
Distribution
''Conium maculatum'' is native to northern Europe, western Asia, and North Africa. ''C. chaerophylloides'', ''C. fontanum'', and ''C. sphaerocarpum'' are all native to southern Africa.
''Conium maculatum'' has been introduced to the Americas, southern Africa, China, New Zealand, and Australia. It was originally brought to the United States from Europe as a garden plant. ''C. maculatum'' has been introduced to other parts of the world due to the transportation of grain. In many areas which ''C. maculatum'' has been introduced, it has become an invasive species
An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species ad ...
.
Ecology
All species of ''Conium'' are poisonous to humans and several other species of mammals; yet, some serve as food sources for some insects. In addition, the invasiveness of ''Conium'' species into non-native habitats is documented. It is unknown what the spread of ''Conium'' into new environments is primarily driven by.
Dispersal
Seeds of the Conium plants fall close to the parent and primarily rely on abiotic and biotic vector transmissions for dispersal. For biotic transmissions, rodents and birds have been documented to spread seeds, with them clinging to the animals' fur. Human introductions of the plants from their native into new habitats (either accidentally through seed contamination or intentional as a garden plant or medicinal herb) is also a proposed cause of the plant being invasive in several regions, but these are not common.
Ecological relationships
As a weed, ''Conium'' plants can spread into grasslands and other areas with low vegetation and crowd out local grass species. The plants spread very quickly and are very competitive with native grasses.
''Conium'' plants use their toxicity as a way to mediate their ecological interactions with other species. Despite the ''Conium'' plants being poisonous, several invertebrates and some insects have evolved mechanisms for avoiding toxicity of chemicals when feeding on the plants. One species of moth, ''Agonopterix alstroemeriana
The hemlock moth (''Agonopterix alstroemeriana''), also known as the defoliating hemlock moth or poison hemlock moth, is a nocturnal moth species of the family Depressariidae. Of Palaearctic origin, it was first found in North America in 1973 whe ...
'', infests ''C. maculatum''.
The plants serve as a host for several viruses, bacteria, and insects, including the carrot rust fly, '' Psila rosae;'' the bacterium ''Xylella fastidiosa
''Xylella fastidiosa'' is an aerobic, Gram-negative bacterium of the genus ''Xylella''. It is a plant pathogen, that grows in the water transport tissues of plants ( xylem vessels) and is transmitted exclusively by xylem sap-feeding insects such ...
;'' carrot thin leaf virus; celery mosaic virus
Celery mosaic virus (CeMV) is a plant pathogenic virus in the genus'' Potyvirus '' and the virus family '' Potyviridae ''.
In California, mosaic diseases of celery (''Apium graveolens'') were reported as early as 1922. After some time, it beca ...
; and alfalfa mosaic virus
Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), also known as ''Lucerne mosaic virus'' or ''Potato calico virus'', is a worldwide distributed phytopathogen that can lead to necrosis and yellow mosaics on a large variety of plant species, including commercially im ...
. In 2015, a novel Poison Hemlock Virus Y (PHVY) was isolated from leaf samples of ''C. maculatum'' with mild mosaic and vein yellowing symptoms, collected from fields in south-east Iran. The virus was shown serologically to be related to potyvirus
''Potyvirus'' is a genus of positive-strand RNA viruses in the family ''Potyviridae''. Plants serve as natural hosts. The genus is named after member virus ''potato virus Y''. Potyviruses account for about thirty percent of the currently known ...
es.'
Economic impact
''Conium'' plants are poisonous to a variety of animals including cows, sheep, goats, swine, rabbits, elk, poultry, and humans. Some of the impacts of the consumption of these plants on animals include muscle spasms, diarrhea, depression, skeletal malformations, and death. In fact, the most important losses from ''Conium'' plants is through livestock toxicity. An estimated yearly loss of livestock to these plants in the western US was $340 million.
Although they are mostly found in non-crop fields, ''Conium'' plants compete with commercial agricultural plants, including several types of vegetables and grains. It has been found growing in corn, chickpea, vegetable, and orchard fields. Regions affected include Oceania
Oceania (, , ) is a region, geographical region that includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Spanning the Eastern Hemisphere, Eastern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres, Oceania is estimated to have a land area of ...
, the Iberian peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula (),
**
* Aragonese and Occitan: ''Peninsula Iberica''
**
**
* french: Péninsule Ibérique
* mwl, Península Eibérica
* eu, Iberiar penintsula also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in southwestern Europe, defi ...
, central Europe, and the United States. Economic losses of crops due to Conium invasion is not as widespread or severe as its affecting of animals farms, and there is little crop loss data available from those regions.
Uses
Historically, the leaves and flowers of ''Conium'' plant species were prized for their decorative appearance, and they were bred and kept as ornamental decorative plants. ''Conium'' plants were also used as natural barriers and in medicine as treatments. As knowledge that chemicals produced by ''Conium'' plants were toxic to humans and mammals became widespread, their usage as decorative plants and as treatments have declined.
Today, species of the ''Conium'' genus have no known uses, and they are classified as a weed. However, notably, ''C. maculatum'' continues to be used in medicine as an ingredient. In addition, the production of toxic chemicals that have limited their widespread public use has instigated research in the chemicals' potential applications in agriculture.
Pesticides
Chemicals produced by and isolated from plants of this genus were found to have anti-insect and anti-predator properties and have been studied for use in agriculture. Coniine was proven to be effective against aphids and blowflies. In addition, extracts of ''Conium'' plants were found to inhibit ''Fusarium pallidoroseum
''Fusarium pallidoroseum'' is a fungal
A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are c ...
,'' a fungal disease causing twig blight in mulberry. However, these findings have not yet been implemented in practice.
In medicine
Extracts of ''Conium'' plants were used as sedatives and antispasmodics. Because of the plants' toxicities, uses as a medicine were discontinued by the early 20th century.
Today, there are no accepted uses for the ''Conium'' genus plants as a treatment. Despite severe safety concerns and a lack of supporting scientific evidence, ''C. maculatum'' has continued to be used as homeopathy or home remedy treatment for several medical conditions including anxiety, muscle spasms, bronchitis, whooping cough, asthma, and arthritis. There is little information on the plant's interactions with other drugs and on treatment doses.
Other uses
''Conium maculatum'' was introduced into North America as an ornamental plant, imported into the United States and southern Canada. Plant hobbyists continue to cultivate this plant species today.
As plants of the ''Conium'' species are known to be dangerous to mammals, they are also used as natural fences between tracts of land to block predatory animals such as wolves. It is grown along streams or rivers and near fences and pastures.
Toxicity
All species of ''Conium'' are highly toxic to humans, many other mammals, and birds (in larger doses). Virtually all parts of the plant are poisonous to humans, and consumption of any part of the plant can cause poisoning. In most cases, poisoning occurs from a misidentification of the plant as an edible species, such as ''C. maculatum'' root with wild parsnips or its leaves with parsley.
Effects on humans and other animals
''Conium maculatum'' is especially known to be dangerous to pregnant and breast-feeding females and in children, where poisoning has occurred by consuming small amounts of ''C. maculatum''. An overdose of ''Conium maculatum'' can typically produce paralysis, with a toxic dose causing loss of speech followed by inhibited respiratory function and, later, death. This plant species and others in the ''Conium'' genus are also toxic in larger mammals, including bovine, equestrian, and other domestic animals. They are also known to cause birth defects in domesticated animals. Birds do not appear to be affected as severely when consuming these seeds of these plants, but they can also be poisoned in larger doses.
Pharmacology
In hemlock, eight piperidine alkaloids
Piperidine alkaloids are naturally occurring chemical compounds from the group of alkaloids, which are chemically derived from piperidine.
Alkaloids with a piperidine building block are widespread and are usually further subdivided according to ...
, known to cause strong physiological effects, were isolated. Two of the eight compounds, g-coniceine and coniine
Coniine is a poisonous chemical compound, an alkaloid present in and isolable from poison hemlock ('' Conium maculatum''), where its presence has been a source of significant economic, medical, and historico-cultural interest; coniine is also prod ...
, were measured as having the highest concentration, and they contribute to the plant's toxicity. Other alkaloids that have been identified in hemlock include methyl coniine, ethyl piperidine and pseudoconhydrine.
In larger animals, acute toxicity doses for ''C. maculatum'' are lower for pigs compared to cattle, and for sheep compared to goats. Specifically, toxicity doses are 3.3 mg/kg for cattle, 15.5 mg/kg for horses and 44.0 mg/kg for sheep.
Treatment
Gastric lavage
Gastric lavage, also commonly called stomach pumping or gastric irrigation, is the process of cleaning out the contents of the stomach. Since its first recorded use in early 19th century, it has become one of the most routine means of eliminating ...
is performed on larger animals who have consumed ''Conium'' plants. For animals who have started to show symptoms, support respiration and treatment with activated charcoal
"Activated" is a song by English singer Cher Lloyd. It was released on 22 July 2016 through Vixen Records. The song was made available to stream exclusively on ''Rolling Stone'' a day before to release (on 21 July 2016).
Background
In an interv ...
and a saline cathartic are used. Support respiration and activated charcoal treatment is also given to human patients who have ingested ''Conium'' plants.
As a poison
''Conium maculatum'' (poison hemlock) is infamous in its use as a poison. A small overdose of extract of the plant causes paralysis with higher toxic doses causing a ceasing of respiratory function followed by death. Poison hemlock was historically used in official executions and assassinations. It was also used to execute prisoners; Socrates
Socrates (; ; –399 BC) was a Greek philosopher from Athens who is credited as the founder of Western philosophy and among the first moral philosophers of the ethical tradition of thought. An enigmatic figure, Socrates authored no te ...
was known to have died from a fatal overdose of the poison.
Cultivation
Historically, ''Conium'' species has been grown as ornamental plants. As it has attractive flowers to some plant breeders, it was introduced to the US from Europe as a garden plant. However, there have been documented cases where there was an improper cultivation of plants, where the species, notably ''C. maculatum,'' is mistaken with common edible plants such as parsnip, parsley, wild celery, and anise and is farmed for human consumption accidentally.
Today, intentional introduction of ''Conium'' plants as a garden plant or live specimen for herbal medicine into new and existing regions is less likely.
Notes
1 Species names have ''Conium'' abbreviated as ''C''. followed by the species taxonomy.
References
External links
{{Taxonbar, from=Q6491516
Apioideae
Apiaceae genera
Neurotoxins
Plant toxins