Information on Hemlock Water-dropwort

Common Name: Hemlock Water-dropwort
Scientific Name: Oenanthe crocata
Irish Name: Dathabha bán
Family Group: Apiaceae
Distribution: View Map (Courtesy of the BSBI)
Flowering Period


Click for list of all flowering by month
Hemlock Water-dropwort could sometimes be confused with:

Water-dropwort, Hemlock, Hemlock, Carrot, Wild, Angelica, Wild,

This is a very poisonous plant and has been fatally mistaken for celery and parsley in the past.  A perennial, it is found in damp meadows, near lakes, rivers and ditches where it can reach 1.5m.  Its small white 5-petalled flowers (2mm across) are borne in large, domed umbels which have 15-35 rays and sometimes bracts also. They bloom in June and July. The stout stems are hollow and grooved.  The large leaves are triangular and tripinnate, with tapering, toothed lobes.  This is a native plant which belongs to the family Apiaceae.     

I first recorded this wildflower at Tacumshane, Co Wexford in 2005 and photographed it at the same spot in 2006.  

If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please record your sighting for the 2010 wildflower mapping survey at www.biology.ie

Water-dropwort, Hemlock
Water-dropwort, Hemlock

The name 'Dead Tongue' was also given to this wildflower due to the effect it had on the mouth and organs of speech.  As already stated, it is an extremely poisonous plant and even cattle and equine stock have died from eating its parsnip-like roots.