Home Cow Parsley- comparison with poison hemlock

Cow Parsley- comparison with poison hemlock

This picture was taken in May. On the left is the young hemlock plant (Conium maculatum). On the right is a young cow parsley plant (Anthriscus sylvestris). The plants were growing next to each other and illustrate the differences. The main stem and the leaf stems of hemlock are circular, smooth, pale green with reddish purples spots and blotches. The main stem of cow parsley is also circular but has longitudinal grooves. The leaf stems of the cow parsley have the characteristic celery-like groove and are slightly hairy. The colour of cow parsley stems varies from green to purple like the example shown in this picture.