Hemlock is a poisonous herbaceous plant from the genus conium and family
Apiaceae.
This flowering plant is naturalized in Europe, Mediterranean region and
southern Africa.
Hemlock consists of two highly poisonous species and used for medicinal
purpose.
Hemlock is a tall and beautiful plant that grows up to 2 to 4 feet in
height. The foliage of the growing plant is elegantly cut.
The root of hemlock is erect, long and forked, pale yellow in colour and
0.5 to 0.75 in diameter. .
The stem is smooth, stout, branched and hollow above, usually spotted
with red or purple on the lower half.
The leaves are diversified and triangular in shape, 50 cm long and 40 cm
wide.
Hemlock is cultivated in temperate regions of Europe, west Asia, North
Africa and parts of Asia, North America, Australia and New Zealand.
Usually hemlock grows as weed against roadsides, surface water,
wastelands and edges of cultivated areas.
Leaves, fruit, seeds
Hemlock contains chief constituents like piperidine alkaloids coniine,
N-methylconiine, conhydrine, pseudoconhydrine and ?-coniceine.