All ingestion must be assessed at a hospital, as even small quantities can cause severe symptoms. Poison hemlock ( Conium maculatum L.), or hemlock as it is also known, is another of the most poisonous plants in the Norwegian flora. Individual observations in Østfold and Vestfold. Habitat: Bog, pond/lake edges, marsh, ponds and small lakes, damp ditches. Leaves: The outline of the leaf is triangular. The umbel is positioned on the side of the stem, opposite the leaves. Characteristics of fine-leaved water dropwortįlower: White. You can see more images of fine-leaved water dropwort here. According to the species database (in Norwegian), it is only found in a few places in Østfold and Vestfold, and poisoning cases with this plant are therefore almost always excluded. Similar species where there is a risk of confusion: Wild angelica Fine-leaved water dropwortįine-leaved water dropwort ( Oenanthe aquatica (L.) Poir) is rare in Norway. Grows from south to north in Norway, but has not been observed in all counties. Scent: Fresh, celery-like vegetable scent. Root: Divided into chambers, with sap which turns yellow-orange when the root is cut. Leaves: Relatively narrow, with saw-toothed lobes. Umbel: Has secondary umbels, but no compound umbels. Illustration: Ingvar Spikkeland Characteristics of cowbane If you are certain that you have ingested this plant, you must therefore call 113 for emergency medical assistance. Cowbane contains the poison cicutoxin, which among other things can cause convulsions, and fatalities have been reported.

All ingestion of plant parts is considered to be potentially dangerous and should be assessed at a hospital immediately. Cowbane ( Cicuta virosa L.) is one of the most poisonous plants in the Norwegian flora. Below, you will find additional information that can help you to exclude the most poisonous umbellifers. The presence of compound umbels and secondary umbels can also be used to distinguish the species from each other. Cowbane and fine-leaved water dropwort grow in damp environments, while poison hemlock and fool’s parsley grow in dry areas. One way of telling the various species apart is to look at the different characteristics of the species. If you have ingested an umbellifer plant, you must exclude these species. In Norway, we have four potentially highly poisonous umbellifers: cowbane or northern water hemlock, poison hemlock, fool’s parsley and fine-leaved water dropwort. There are more harmless umbellifer species than highly poisonous ones among the Norwegian flora. In the event of an accident involving this plant family, it is important to exclude the most poisonous species. The umbellifer family is a large family comprising just under 3,000 different species. The most poisonous umbellifer plants in Norway The flowers are small, five-pointed and, in most species, white, although other colours do occur (yellow, reddish, greenish). Depending on whether it is below a compound umbel or a secondary umbel, these wreaths are known as involucre or involucel. Involucel and involucre: Below the umbels, there is often a wreath of leaves. Each stem within this compound umbel is called a ray, and the inflorescences at the end of the ray are called secondary umbels. Last month a family in Andorra suffered severe poisoning, after eating a toxic plant found in the mountains.Īuthorities advised people to have any wild plants or mushrooms picked in the countryside checked before consuming them.Compound umbel and secondary umbel: A compound umbel consists of all the flower stalks and inflorescences that originate from a single point on the stem.

He is out of danger, according to France 3.Ī third person, a 32-year-old fellow hiker to whom the pair had given some of the deadly plant, has been found and taken to hospital for observation, but has shown no signs of poisoning symptoms. The 78-year-old died shortly after eating a meal made using the leaves of the plant, while his companion was taken to hospital in Perpignan for treatment. If eaten, it causes including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea - and can lead to hypotension, sinus bradycardia, and ventricular arrhythmias - which can be fatal within two to six hours.

Wolfsbane is a member of the aconite family.

The pair picked some deadly wolfsbane while walking in the Canigou massif region, mistaking it for an edible plant known locally as couscouil, which is often used as an ingredient in salads and omelettes. Authorities have warned against eating wild plants after a 78-year-old hiker died, and his 75-year-old walking companion was taken to hospital after they ate the leaves of a poisonous plant they had collected while walking in the mountains of the Pyrénées-Orientales.

Where does wolfsbane grow