water hemlock

water hemlock   n.  Any of several poisonous, heavy-scented, perennial herbs of the genus Cicuta, especially C. maculata, of marshy areas in eastern and central North America, having compound umbels of small white flowers and bipinnately compound leaves.

Main Entry: water hemlock
Function: noun
: a tall erect Eurasian perennial herb of the genus Cicuta (C. virosa) that is locally abundant in marshy areas oralong streams and is highly poisonous; also : any of several other plants of the genus Cicuta (as spotted cowbane)

water hemlock

any of about 10 species of poisonous plants of the genus Cicuta, in the parsley family (Apiaceae), common throughout the North Temperate Zone. In Europe, Cicuta virosa is the commonly known species. It is a tall perennial herb that grows in marshy areas and is deadly poisonous. The water hemlock best known in North America is C. maculata, also known as cowbane, musquash root, or beaver poison, which grows to about 2.5 metres (8 feet) tall. It has divided leaves and clusters of white flowers

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