Page authors: Don Knoke, David Giblin
Cicuta douglasii
Douglas' water-hemlock, western water-hemlock
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Oregon, east to Alberta, Montana and Wyoming.

Habitat: Marshes, ditches, and wet low places, from low to middle elevations in the mountains.

Flowers: June-August

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Edibility: EXTREMELY TOXIC EVEN IN SMALL AMOUNTS WHEN INGESTED BY HUMANS AND LIVESTOCK.

Pollination: Generalist

Description:
General:

Stout perennials, often glaucous, 5-20 dm. tall, the stems solitary or few from a tuberous-thickened and chambered base, with several of the roots thickened as well.

Leaves:

Leaves basal and cauline, 1-3 times ternate-pinnate, with lance-linear to lance-ovate, serrate leaflets 3-10 cm. long and 6-35 cm. wide, the primary lateral veins directed to the marginal sinuses.

Flowers:

Compound umbels several, the rays 2-6 cm. long; involucre wanting; involucel of several narrow bractlets; calyx teeth evident; petals 5, white.

Fruits:

Stylopodium depressed; fruit glabrous, orbicular, 2-4 mm. long, the thickened ribs wider than the often darkened intervals.

Edibility:

EXTREMELY TOXIC EVEN IN SMALL AMOUNTS WHEN INGESTED BY HUMANS AND LIVESTOCK.

Comments:

EXTREMELY TOXIC EVEN IN SMALL AMOUNTS WHEN INGESTED BY HUMANS AND LIVESTOCK.

Accepted Name:
Cicuta douglasii (DC.) J.M. Coult. & Rose
Publication: Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 7: 95. 1900.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
Cicuta maculata L. var. californica (A. Gray) B. Boivin
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Cicuta douglasii in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database

WA Flora Checklist: Cicuta douglasii checklist entry

OregonFlora: Cicuta douglasii information

E-Flora BC: Cicuta douglasii atlas page

CalPhotos: Cicuta douglasii photos

48 photographs:
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