Hemlock - A Killer In The Backcountry

This is an old post about an old menace to folks in the backcountry.   Hemlock is deadly.

Hemlock is a deadly invasive plant species that grows just about everywhere in the USA.

Noxious weeds are a real problem in Oregon.

My county has an aggressive program to get rid of these invasive weeds.

The image to the left is from a flyer that identifies  the many weeds found in my region.

Hemlock is indeed a killer.

These plants are found along waterways and irrigation canals.

The mature poison hemlock - 

"....is a biennial that grows 6 to 8 feet tall.  Stems are erect, stout and purple spotted at all stages.  Leaves on mature pants, as well as seedling plants, are fern-like in appearance.  All plant parts are poisonous including the large white taproot.  Humans ave been poisoned by mistaking the plant for parsley."  

Note that the quote states that all plant parts are poisonous.  I've talked to several ranchers who thought that only the taproot was dangerous.