Another poisonous plant warning - Hemlock water dropwort

[Meowy Catkin]

With the really wet winter we have found Hemlock Water Dropwort growing in places where it has never been before. Do learn what it looks like, especially if your fields have wet areas, streams or have been flooded. Also once it's established itself in wet area, it seems happy even when that area dries out.

It is very poisonous. The leaves are poisonous, the stalks are more poisonous and the roots are extremely poisonous. I have been told that one root is enough to kill a horse or cow and it is palatable. This is why the pale, carrot like roots are nicknamed dead mans fingers.

 

[Slightly Foxed]

Thank you for the warning!

 

[Meowy Catkin]

No problem.

 

[LessThanPerfect]

Thanks for that, have saved the images as a reference, is that okay?

 

[JillA]

Thanks - it looks very like cow parsley, easy to mistake.

 

[hayinamanger]

Thanks for posting, Faracat, I have just been speaking to someone who has had sick ewes abort and lambs born with deformed hips and legs, the cause is Hemlock poisoning.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Cheers

Deadly Nightshade has also been prevalent round my local area this year. Used to have 1 plant in 1 of my fields about 30 yrs ago, spotted 2 plants last week on my walk round & destroyed them.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Thanks for that, have saved the images as a reference, is that okay?

Of course, they are google images as I've already burnt most of what I found and it wasn't in flower at that point.

There are lots of similar looking plants, as JillA said, cow parsley is one of them. It does have a distinctive smell which you learn quite quickly.

That's sad about the lambs. One of our local farmers had some mystery cow deaths a few years ago and it was finally tracked down to HW Dropwort. They said that the animals will eat a few leaves and feel OK. So then they eat more as they get a taste for it. Then if they manage to get a root (and it's certainly easy to pull up a whole plant in boggy soil) and eat that, it's curtains.

TFF. Ugh there are so many poisonous plants. I recognise Deadly Nightshade but there are others that I'm discovering. I feel like I need to be a botanist just to provide safe grazing for my animals.

This blog makes sober reading. http://jpwaldron.wordpress.com/2012...opwort-the-most-poisonous-plant-in-britain-2/

 

[cambrica]

Here is another thread from a while back with photos. Hemlock is certainly one plant that would worry me but I don't think its too common?
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...eed-Hemlock-and-cow-parsley&highlight=hemlock

 

[Gloi]

This seems to be spreading in my area. I first saw it by ditches when I was hacking a few years ago but now I see it all over the place when I'm out. Maybe the seeds are falling into the water in the ditches and being washed along because it seems to be sprouting in the roadside ditches in lots of places it never grew before.

 

[Fides]

It is very toxic to humans too - wear gloves when handling it.

The problem is that it looks quite similar to cow parsley so can go undetected

It was used to execute the Greek philosopher Socrates

 

[pennyturner]

I don't think it is palatable. I have a small amount in my field, identified when we had a survey done of the SSSI. It is of no interest to the ponies - and they eat just about everything else.

 

[Alchemy]

Thanks i never knew that :-0 !

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I don't think it is palatable. I have a small amount in my field, identified when we had a survey done of the SSSI. It is of no interest to the ponies - and they eat just about everything else.

You are lucky that yours don't like it. I'm told that it's well known that cows, sheep and horses will eat it. Dig it up (roots and all) and burn it, it's too poisonous to risk leaving it in the field and trusting the horses to ignore it.

 

[vanrim]

Thanks for the warning Faracat

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

Thanks for posting faracat, I have seen lots of this about, I have to be careful with Nell as she sometimes tries to grab at any greenery when hacking the little piglet, there is so much of this about at the moment :S

 

[Cahill]

also check out hogweed which has sap that causes burns. (looks like a tougher type of cow parsley but comes later)

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Unfortunately its spreading around here. Think the wet winter has been just what it needed to promulgate.

Damn stuff

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Thanks for posting faracat, I have seen lots of this about, I have to be careful with Nell as she sometimes tries to grab at any greenery when hacking the little piglet, there is so much of this about at the moment :S

I have one that does that too - just tries to grab and eat anything that's within reach. I can't let my guard down with her.

Mijods - I think you are right the wet winter has been perfect for it and the bloody stuff is everywhere now.

C - I know someone who strimmed some hogweed that was hidden amongst other plants on their verge and they had very red skin on their legs, arms and face for a few days.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Thanks for posting faracat, I have seen lots of this about, I have to be careful with Nell as she sometimes tries to grab at any greenery when hacking the little piglet, there is so much of this about at the moment :S

I used to have a horse do this in an area with lots of yew trees. After the first few times, I took to riding in a bucket muzzle.

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

I used to have a horse do this in an area with lots of yew trees. After the first few times, I took to riding in a bucket muzzle.

Sounds like a very good idea! All this food within reach is so much temptation for the little piglet and boy is she strong, I cant let my guard down or the cheeky monkey gets her head right down!

 

[pennyturner]

also check out hogweed which has sap that causes burns. (looks like a tougher type of cow parsley but comes later)

You are confusing hogweed (palatable and harmless), which is as you describe, with GIANT hogweed, which is well over 7ft tall, rare, and so toxic that if you see it or have it on your land, you must report it to DEFRA immediately.