Water hemlocks

Water hemlocks are a small genus of highly poisonous plants comprising four species of biennial or perennial herbaceous plants in the carrot family, Apiaceae. They are extremely toxic plants that are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, particularly North America and Eurasia. Typically found growing in wet meadows, along streambanks, marshes, and other damp habitats, these plants feature small white flowers arranged in umbrella-shaped clusters known as umbels. They possess characteristic hollow, swollen root nodes that contain a high concentration of cicutoxin, a potent neurotoxin that causes violent seizures and death. Because of their extreme toxicity, they are widely considered among the most dangerous plants in North America, posing a severe threat to humans, livestock, and wildlife alike.