Apiaceae / Conium maculatum + Daucus carota / Poison Hemlock + Queen Anne's Lace

A while ago, while tending a commercial greenhouse that provides food for humans at the local farmer's market as well as livestock at the end of seasons, I came across these lovely Apiaceae family plants. As this is the season where these two are starting to pop up, I felt it was a good opportunity to go over some of the key differences between these two notorious flora!

Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota) and Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum) are both common throughout the United States. Although many folks rely on just one trait for identification, it is important, as it is with all plant ID, to learn and recognize a variety of features considering plants are often quite variable in their appearances and may even be missing a key feature (or two).

First up, Conium. Roots can be varied but are often mangled and white. Stems tend to be glabrous (smooth), will often (though not always…see photo) have purple splotching along their base, slowly becoming less dense as you rise up the hollow stem and will typically have a dense glaucus powdery coating. Leaves are pinnately dissected with prominent veins underside and hairless. It typically has white umbel flower inflorescences. The entire plant, especially the above-ground parts, has a foul odor when crushed. Height can be up to 10ft. tall.

With Daucus, stems are pubescent (hairy) and hollow. Leaves are the most difficult feature to differentiate (partially because these are the most variable part of a plant!) but QAL often has hair on the undersides as opposed to the smooth leaves of Hemlock. Flower inflorescences are also subtly different. While they are both white umbels, QAL has a more flat or rounded shape as opposed to the more rounded Hemlock. If you look beneath the flower structure, there are lace-like bracts (modified leaves). As the plant matures, these form a nest-like appearance which gives QAL it's other common name. In the center of the umbel, there is often (though not always) a red flower. Height is much shorter than Hemlock, usually topping out around 3-4 ft. Finally, when crushed, the entire plant has a scent similar to, you guessed it, carrot.

Hopefully some folks find this useful! Happy foraging!