Apiaceae: Cicuta maculata

Cicuta maculata is a rhizomatous perennial herb with a hollow erect stem that can reach a height of 2 meters. The base of the stem is swollen, containing several chambers separated by well-developed transverse partitions, and usually mottled with purple blotches. The alternate compound bi to tripinnate leaves may be up to 40 cm long and are made up of lance-shaped, pointed, serrated leaflets. Each shiny green leaflet is 2 to 10 cm long. The inflorescences of loose compound umbels are attached to terminal and lateral branches on peduncles that exceed the leaves. The white flowers are similar in appearance to other species in the carrot family. The fruit is an oval, flattened 3-4 mm schizocarp that turns tan-brown when mature. Water hemlock flowers from July through September in wet meadows, roadside ditches, pond margins, open marshes, and freshwater swamps throughout South Dakota.