Identifying poisonoaus umbellifers in Norway

The Norwegian Poison Information Centre (22 59 13 00) is unable to identify plants, but it can attempt to exclude the most toxic umbellifers with your help.

Umbellifers with white small flowers at sunset.

Umbellifers belong to a large family of plants (Umbelliferae sp.) which includes edible species such as wild celery, carrot and parsnip, as well as the highly poisonous species cowbane or northern water hemlock, fine-leaved water dropwort, poison hemlock and fool’s parsley or poison parsley. It is therefore very important to be able to distinguish between the various umbellifer species, even though this can often be challenging.

The umbellifer family (Umbelliferae sp.)

The species in the umbellifer plant family (Umbelliferae sp.) cover everything from relatively small plants up to plants four metres tall. They can be annual, biennial or perennial. There is a wide variation in toxicity within the umbellifer family. Some are plants are edible and used in food, while others can cause fatal poisoning, even in small doses. However, in terms of their appearance, there are some recurring characteristics:

Illustration of a screen plant

Hvite blomster på stripete grønn stengel

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. Each stem within this compound umbel is called a ray, and the inflorescences at the end of the ray are called secondary umbels.

Involucel and involucre: 

Below the umbels, there is often a wreath of leaves. Depending on whether it is below a compound umbel or a secondary umbel, these wreaths are known as involucre or involucel.

The flowers are small, five-pointed and, in most species, white, although other colours do occur (yellow, reddish, greenish).

The most poisonous umbellifer plants in Norway

The umbellifer family is a large family comprising just under 3,000 different species. In the event of an accident involving this plant family, it is important to exclude the most poisonous species. There are more harmless umbellifer species than highly poisonous ones among the Norwegian flora.

In Norway, we have four potentially highly poisonous umbellifers:

  • cowbane or northern water hemlock
  • poison hemlock
  • fool’s parsley
  • fine-leaved water dropwort

 If you have ingested an umbellifer plant, you must exclude these species.

One way of telling the various species apart is to look at the different characteristics of the species. Cowbane and fine-leaved water dropwort grow in damp environments, while poison hemlock and fool’s parsley grow in dry areas. The presence of compound umbels and secondary umbels can also be used to distinguish the species from each other. Below, you will find additional information that can help you to exclude the most poisonous umbellifers.

Cowbane

​​Cowbane (Cicuta virosa L.) is one of the most poisonous plants in the Norwegian flora. All ingestion of plant parts is considered to be potentially dangerous and should be assessed at a hospital immediately. Cowbane contains the poison cicutoxin, which among other things can cause convulsions, and fatalities have been reported. If you are certain that you have ingested this plant, you must therefore call 113 for emergency medical assistance.

Selsnepe med små hvite blomster på grønn stilk

Selsnepeblader er relativt smale, med sagtannede fliker.

Selsneperot delt i to viser at roten er oppdelt i kammer på innsiden.

Selsneperot delt i to, viser kammer på innsiden av roten

Characteristics of cowbane

Umbel: Has secondary umbels, but no compound umbels.

Leaves: Relatively narrow, with saw-toothed lobes.

Stalk: Hollow.

Flower: White (reddish).

Root: Divided into chambers, with sap which turns yellow-orange when the root is cut.

Height: 50–120 cm.

Scent: Fresh, celery-like vegetable scent.

Habitat: Bog, pond/lake edges, marsh, ponds and small lakes, damp ditches. Grows from south to north in Norway, but has not been observed in all counties.

Similar species where there is a risk of confusion: Wild angelica

Fine-leaved water dropwort

Fine-leaved water dropwort (Oenanthe aquatica (L.) Poir) is rare in Norway. 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.

You can see more images of fine-leaved water dropwort here.

Characteristics of fine-leaved water dropwort

Umbel: Has secondary umbels, but no compound umbels.

Flower: White. The umbel is positioned on the side of the stem, opposite the leaves.

Leaves: The outline of the leaf is triangular.

Stalk: Coarse with sprawling branches.

Root: No special characteristics.

Height: 30–50 cm.

Habitat: Bog, pond/lake edges, marsh, ponds and small lakes, damp ditches. Rare in Norway. Individual observations in Østfold and Vestfold.

Poison hemlock

Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum L.), or hemlock as it is also known, is another of the most poisonous plants in the Norwegian flora. The whole plant is poisonous. All ingestion must be assessed at a hospital, as even small quantities can cause severe symptoms. You must therefore call the medical emergency number 113 if you are certain you have ingested this plant.

Giftkjeks har små hvite blomster på grønn stengel

Giftkjeksen har rødflekkete stengel og grønne blader

Characteristics of poison hemlock

Umbel: Has both compound umbels and secondary umbels.

Flower: White.

Leaves: Lower leaves similar to cow parsley, but larger.

Stalk: Red-purple spotted.

Root: No special characteristics.

Height: 50–150 cm.

Scent: May have a rotten, bad odour when leaf or stalk is crushed.

Habitat: Fields, road verges, urban weeds, wasteland. From the south of Norway up to and including Trøndelag.

Similar species where there is a risk of confusion: Cow parsley

Fool’s parsley

Fool’s parsley (Aethusa cynapium L.) is a poisonous plant, which when ingested in large quantities may result in the same poisoning as poison hemlock. Relatively little information is available concerning the toxicity of the plant in the literature. Cases of severe poisoning and even fatalities are mentioned in older literature, but there appear to be no recorded cases of poisoning by fool’s parsley in modern times.

If you accidentally ingest this plant, you should call the Norwegian Poison Information Centre (22 59 13 00) for advice on what to do.

Hundepersille har små hvite blomster og grønne blader

Hvite blomster på stripete grønn stengel

Characteristics of fool’s parsley

Umbel: Has no compound umbels, but has long, hanging involucels on the outside of the secondary umbels. All the subspecies have hanging involucels, but of varying length.

Flower: White. The outer petals are often larger than the inner ones.

Leaves: Soft, glossy dark green.

Stalk: Striped.

Root: No special characteristics.

Height: 15–60 cm.

Habitat: Fields, road verges, urban weeds, wasteland. From the south of Norway up to and including Troms.

Similar species where there is a risk of confusion: Cow parsley

Other information about umbellifers

There is a wide variation in toxicity within the umbellifer family. Another problem with some umbellifer species is that they are phototoxic, i.e. they can cause a skin reaction upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Phototoxic umbellifers

Phototoxic umbellifers

Phototoxic reactions are caused by substances which damage the skin if they are exposed to natural or artificial sunlight when in contact with the skin.

Illustration: biopix.dk

Contact the Norwegian Poisons Information Centre if you suspect a poisoning

22 59 13 00

The phone service is open 24 hours a day.

In case of severe symptoms call:

113

For healthcare professionals

Treatment recommendations for acute poisonings, prepared by the Norwegian Poison Information Centre.

Content provided by The Norwegian Poisons Information Centre

The Norwegian Poisons Information Centre. Identifying poisonoaus umbellifers in Norway. [Internet]. Oslo: The Norwegian Directorate of Health; updated Thursday, July 1, 2021 [retrieved Friday, October 11, 2024]. Available from: https://www.helsenorge.no/en/poison-information/planter-og-bar-a-a/identifying-poisonous-umbellifers-in-norway/

Last updated Thursday, July 1, 2021