The roots are more toxic than the leaves and stems; however, all parts of the plant including the seeds should be considered dangerous.".
Farmers who have pasture land will want to keep an eye out for poison hemlock to ensure none of it is growing where their animals are grazing.Like parsley and other carrot family members, poison hemlock will have tiny white flowers that grow in clusters this time of year.A big difference in the plants is that the stalk of poison hemlock is purple, according to Josh Dyer, director of the Crawford Park District.But as poison hemlock has taken hold in North Central Ohio, most calls the naturalist has received have led to positive identifications.
"It's really taken off," Dyer said.The plant is hard to identify during its first year
"It flowers on the second year," Hartschuh saidOne of Dyer's colleagues recently tried to eradicate some poison hemlock and discovered the hard way how dangerous the plant really is"Like with poison ivy, if you burn it the oils will get in the air and you can get poison ivy in your lungs. I don't know yet if poison hemlock is the same, but I would not want to risk it."