Cowbane, Mackenzie's water hemlock
Cicuta virosa
Family: Apiaceae or Umbelliferae
What it is like
Cicuta virosa is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft). It is in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.
Height (m): 1.2
Where it is found
Ditches, shallow muddy waters and marshes.
Northern and central Europe, including Britain, east to Japan.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 1
One report says that the boiled leaves have been eaten. This is very unwise, see the notes above on toxicity.
Medicine
Rating: 1
The root is analgesic, antispasmodic, emetic, galactofuge and sedative. The whole plant is highly toxic and is not used in herbal medicine. A homeopathic remedy has been made from this plant in the past. It was used in the treatment of epilepsy, meningitis and other ailments affecting the brain.
Analgesic: Relieves pain.
Antispasmodic: Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.
Emetic: Induces vomiting.
Epilepsy: Used in the treatment of Epilepsy - a disorder in which nerve cell activity in the brain is disturbed, causing seizures.
Galactofuge: Stops or reduces the flow of milk in a nursing mother.
Sedative: Gently calms, reducing nervousness, distress and irritation.
Other
Rating:
How it is grown
Prefers a moist or wet acid soil.
Propagating it: Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer. If you have sufficient seed, outdoor sowings in situ could be tried in the spring and the autumn.
Best place to grow: Bog Garden;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 0-0
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist, wet
Things to keep in mind
A very poisonous plant, even a small bite can be lethal. The active ingredient is called cicutoxin, it is a spasmodic with a high toxicity to the central nervous system. It causes death by respiratory paralysis.