Identifying Apiaceae: Oenanthe crocata - Hemlock water dropwort

One of, if not our most poisonous plants in the UK, learn the identifying features of Oenanthe crocata.

[justmadeit]

They can be reddish at the base too, there are lots on the canal path here in north Manchester, it’s the uks most dangerous plants or certainly one of

[swarfegakid]

This plant is doing my head in... Been walking miles on a Tuesday with a group of mates for over 4 years... We have identified cow parsley, sweet cicely, hemlock, common hogweed, angelica but can't get a positive ID on oenanthe crocata.... We did find a specimen near the river lathkill but we thought it was wild parsnip, it had only one tuber or root and was cream when cut and smelled of

Question, do you find this always in the water, or is it also on the river bank sides or further into the fields and hedgerows etc?

I can see it's leaf patterns are different to the above mentioned plants, less lacey like cow parsley and more domestic parsley or The hunt goes on 😊