A Variation on “The Four Horsemen”
A quartet of deadly and toxic plants lurks along trails and riverbanks in Iowa and some across much of the world. They are Poison Hemlock, Poison Ivy, Flowering Spurge, and Wild Four O’clock.
Poison Hemlock
We’ll start with Poison Hemlock. Socrates wasn’t the only person killed by it. The Greeks once used to execute criminals.
Poison hemlock isn’t related to the majestic hemlock tree. Rather, it’s a biennial herbaceous plant. In its second year it quickly shoots up to tower upwards of eight feet tall. In Iowa it prefers living in dappled sunlight where the soil is moist. That describes the land bisected by public trails paralleling rivers and streams—places where people go to recreate.
It’s deadly poisonous, but only when ingested. Walking or cycling by it creates no problem at all. But it’s wise to know about this potentially deadly plant. All parts of it are toxic to people and animals when ingested. Even dried, wintery stems are poisonous.
By early June, the tall green plants with feathery leaves begin bearing white clusters of flowers. Their prettiness is deadly.
Poison hemlock could be confused with Queen Anne’s Lace that’s sometimes called wild carrot. Poison hemlock also often lives near wild parsnips. This plant is also toxic, in a different way. It can create a vicious rash in people who rub against it with bare skin and then are exposed to sunlight.
Where Poison Hemlock Originated
Poison Hemlock is native to Europe and is especially common around the Mediterranean Sea. It was introduced to the Americas, New Zealand, Australia, and Asia, so today, it is a toxic invasive species worldwide.
The Internet and YouTube are loaded with sites describing this plant. A good quick read comes from the National Park Service at nps.gov/articles/poison-hemlock.htm.
Other Troublesome Plants
Unfortunately, several other deadly and toxic plants often live in the same places as poison hemlock. Here are a few.
- Poison ivy often lines trails. It prefers living on the edge of woodlands where it gets some shade and sun. Unlike poison hemlock, poison ivy is a native plant that causes a contact reaction. That means if human skin brushes against it a nasty itchy rash can follow. And, if a pet wanders through the poison ivy and then comes inside where a human pats it, guess what? The irritating oils are transferred and the human gets a nasty rash. A friend of our discovered this earlier this year. Also, state parks are notorious for having poison ivy growing where people contact it – along unkempt trails and winding up trees in campgrounds even. Rabbits and deer eat it and birds eat and spread the seeds.
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- Birds drop seeds when they perch on campground posts.
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- Poison Ivy loves edges
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- Keep your distance from this beguiling, colorful plant.
Pretty and irritating
Flowering spurge is also common along trails. Cut the plant and get some of its sap on skin and a nasty welt is likely to result.
Unattended areas attract undesirable plants.
Wild Four O’clock also loves trail edges and is reported to be toxic.
None of these plants cause problems unless they are eaten or contact the skin. They won’t cause a problem for anyone just walking by
Be careful. Keep your distance.
