Herbario Virtual del Mediterráneo Occidental
Àrea de Botànica, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears
Conium maculatum L.
Family : UMBELLIFERAE (APIACEAE)
Genus : Conium
Catalan common name : Cicuta. Fonollassa.
Spanish common name : Cicuta. Perejil lobuno.
Province distribution : Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Gerona. Lérida. Tarragona. Valencia.
Distribution in the islands : Formentera. Ibiza. Mallorca. Minorca.
General distribution : Some regions
Flowering time : May. June. July. August. September.
Life-forms : Hemicryptophyte. Terophyte.
Habitat : Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones, torrents.
Uses and properties : Aromatic. Medicinal. Tòxica.
IUCN Category : Poco preocupante
Characteristics : Poison hemlock is more commonly known as a poison than as a common plant in our flora, and in fact it is quite frequent in many parts of the islands. It can be very abundant in the hollows in torrents (dry river beds) which remain dry most of the year round. It is a member of the Umbelliferae which can grow to over two metres in height, and has pure white flowers. Daucus carota looks rather similar, but this is a plant covered in hairs which makes it rough to the touch, Conium has no hairs and is very soft but rough to the touch; moreover Daucus forms fruits covered in bristles, whereas Conium has unarmed fruits.
