poison hemlock

poison hemlock

poison hemlock lethally poisonous herbaceous plant ( Conium maculatum ) of the family Umbelliferae ( parsley family). It has rank, finely divided foliage, flat-topped clusters of small white flowers, and a hollow, purple-mottled stem. Although native to the Old World, it is now naturalized and common in parts of the United States. The poisonous principle (the alkaloid coniine) causes paralysis, convulsions, and eventual death. Poison hemlock was used in ancient Greece in executions; a famous example was the philosopher Socrates. The related water hemlock (any species of Cicuta ) is similar in appearance and as poisonous. C. maculata, called also musquash-root, spotted cowbane, and beaver poison, is the common species of E North America. The evergreen trees called hemlock are unrelated. Poison hemlock is classified in the division Magnoliophyta , class Magnoliopsida, order Apiales, family Umbelliferae.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"poison hemlock." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"poison hemlock." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-poisonhe.html

"poison hemlock." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-poisonhe.html

Learn more about citation styles

hemlock

hem·lock / ˈhemˌläk/ • n. 1. a highly poisonous European plant (Conium maculatum) of the parsley family, with a purple-spotted stem, fernlike leaves, small white flowers, and an unpleasant smell. ∎  a sedative or poisonous potion obtained from this plant. 2. a coniferous North American tree (genus Tsuga) of the pine family with dark green foliage that is said to smell like the hemlock plant when crushed, grown chiefly for timber and pulp production.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"hemlock." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"hemlock." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-hemlock.html

"hemlock." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-hemlock.html

Learn more about citation styles

hemlock

hemlock Poisonous herbaceous plant found in Eurasia. It has a long taproot and flat clusters of white flowers. The leaf stalks have purple spots. Family Apiaceae/Umbelliferae; species Conium maculatum. Hemlock also refers to species of conifers of the genus Tsuga, family Pinaceae.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"hemlock." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"hemlock." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-hemlock.html

"hemlock." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-hemlock.html

Learn more about citation styles

hemlock

hemlock OE. hymlic(e), hemlic, of unkn. orig.; forms in hum-, hom- continued till XVI; the alt. of the final syll. to -lock (XV) is paralleled in CHARLOCK.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

T. F. HOAD. "hemlock." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "hemlock." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-hemlock.html

T. F. HOAD. "hemlock." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-hemlock.html

Learn more about citation styles

hemlock

hemlock in ancient Greece, the poison obtained from this plant was a method of execution; Socrates was put to death in this way.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "hemlock." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "hemlock." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-hemlock.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "hemlock." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-hemlock.html

Learn more about citation styles

hemlock

hemlock •matchlock • padlock • armlock •Belloc •deadlock, headlock, wedlock •hemlock • fetlock • airlock •breeze block • gridlock • ziplock •flintlock • Shylock •forelock, oarlock, warlock •roadblock • woodblock • sunblock •gunlock • lovelock • firelock •hammerlock • fetterlock • interlock •Enoch • kapok • epoch • shamrock •bedrock • pibroch • Sheetrock •Ragnarök • bedsock • windsock •shell shock • aftershock • fatstock •Bartók •deadstock, headstock •penstock • tailstock • feedstock •tick-tock • laughing stock • livestock •nostoc, Rostock, Vladivostok, Vostok •rootstock • Woodstock • bloodstock •gunstock

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"hemlock." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"hemlock." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-hemlock.html

"hemlock." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-hemlock.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

This weed kills: poison hemlock is on the increase and as deadly as...
Magazine article from: Farm Journal; 9/1/2009
GARBAGE IS SMART PLACE FOR POISON HEMLOCK ERGONOMIC GARDEN TOOLS TAKE STRESS...
Newspaper article from: The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA); 7/11/2004
Poisons.(Poisons: From Hemlock to Botox and the Killer Bean of Calabar)(Brief...
Magazine article from: The Bookwatch; 8/1/2005
poison hemlock images
poison hemlock. Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)