A tall, unpleasant-smelling biennial, 1.5-2.4 m (5-8 ft.) in height, with purplish-red speckles towards the base of the stems, finely divided, feathery leaves and large umbels of white flowers in midsummer.
History and traditions
Poisoning by hemlock was the official method of state execution in ancient Athens. The philosopher Socrates was its best-known victim. It was also used as a medicinal herb in the classical world, mainly for external application. Dioscorides and Pliny, echoed by Avicenna, recommended it for the treatment of skin diseases and cancerous tumors. It appeared in Anglo-Saxon herbals and an old English myth associated the splotches on the stems with the mark of Cain.
Growth
A wild plant in Australia and other countries, cultivation is legally restricted.
Uses
Medicinal
Hemlock contains the highly toxic alkaloid, coniine, in all parts, but especially in the seeds. At one time it was used as a sedative and powerful pain-reliever but its toxicity made this a risky business and it is seldom used in herbal medicine today.
