Hemlock waterparsnip

Appearance

The shape and size of the leaves depends on the environment in which ''S. suave'' grows. Basil rosette leaves form on moist ground at around 3.8 cm long, and in shallow water they grow in clusters of aquatic leaves. Once leaves are formed this flowering plant stands up to 3 meters tall with stems that are 5 cm in diameter. Water parsnip has light green and glabrous stems with longitudinal veins and few branches. Leaves along the stems are alternate and odd-pinnate. Water parsnip flowers are perfect and are self-fertile. The pedicles are 3–5 mm long and the fruit is ovoid. The fruit is dry but does not split open when ripe. The flowers have umbellule inflorescence with 10-20 white flowers. These white flowers are small with 5 petals. The petals can sometimes be of unequal size and are somewhat heart shaped.

Distribution

''Sium suave'' grows in wetland habitats . These wetland habits include wet prairies, bottoms of seeps, low areas along springs, soggy thickets, swamps, borders and shallow water of ponds, marshes, and ditches. It is native to both North America and Asia in Canada, the United States, Japan, Russia Federation, South Korea, and China.

Habitat

''Sium suave'' grows in wetland habitats . These wetland habits include wet prairies, bottoms of seeps, low areas along springs, soggy thickets, swamps, borders and shallow water of ponds, marshes, and ditches. It is native to both North America and Asia in Canada, the United States, Japan, Russia Federation, South Korea, and China.

Uses

Edible parts of the plant include the root, either raw or cooked, which has a nutty flavor. While the root is edible in the spring and fall, extreme caution should be practiced because it closely resembles very poisonous plants. The leaves are also sometimes used for condiments such as relish. Crushed water parsnip roots have also been used as an analgesic in cases of broken limbs. The poisonous plant that it resembles closest is the Spotted Water Hemlock .'' However, The Spotted Water Hemlock possesses a few traits that water parsnip does not. These include purplish mottling on the stem, multiple leaflet divisions, and leaflet veins ending in notches.