Hemlock and Cow Parsley look very similar. Hemlock is very poisonous, cow parsley is safe and tasty. They both belong to the Umbelliferae family or the Carrot/Celery family of plants - one to be very careful of!
So how do you tell the difference?
Firstly, the old adage: if you're not 100% sure, don't pick it!
Hemlock:
- smells like mouse pee
- has purple spatter blotches on the stem (most noticeable at ground level)
- has a smooth stem
- the stem branches are round
- more feathery leaves
Cow Parsley:
- slightly hairy stem
- stems can be green or purple (but not blotchy)
- stems have a groove in them
- smells like parsley!
Really hard to tell from the picture above!
So how do you tell the difference?
Firstly, the old adage: if you're not 100% sure, don't pick it!
Hemlock:
- smells like mouse pee
- has purple spatter blotches on the stem (most noticeable at ground level)
- has a smooth stem
- the stem branches are round
- more feathery leaves
Cow Parsley:
- slightly hairy stem
- stems can be green or purple (but not blotchy)
- stems have a groove in them
- smells like parsley!
Really hard to tell from the picture above!
#stanmerpark #foraging #poison #be100% #wildherbs #foodvpoison
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