Angelica and Hemlock

The beautiful angelica in Wildflower's lovely garden was named for the angels and was regarded as the supreme herb for treating a host of ailments. More recently, its candied stems have been used for cakes.
But BEWARE its look-a-like companion - Hemlock. In size, shape and flowers it is so very similar to angelica:


It gives itself away by the purple blotches on its stem - so don't candy them! It is quite common, but I never give away its location as some health and safety fanatic is sure to want to destroy it. There are many poisonous plants in the wild and in our gardens - we just have to know which is which and teach our children too.


(edited and corrected hemlock is similar to angelica and not henbane as first post indicated)

[ 10. June 2006, 02:00 PM: Message edited by: Hornbeam ]

 

This is the one in my front garden as you can see its simolar but it does not have the measles on its stem..like the one in hornbeams photo..

 

Sorry for the earlier confusion - must be the heat! This is henbane and its nothing like hemlock. Only the names are similar. The whole plant of henbane is very poisonous but it is now quite rare.