Poison Hemlock vs. Wild Carrot (Queen Anne's Lace)

POISON HEMLOCK (Conium maculatum) — all parts deadly; no antidote.

The tell: Hemlock: smooth, HAIRLESS stems with purple blotches, growing 3–8 feet tall, mousy odor. Wild carrot: HAIRY stems, smaller (1–3 ft), carroty smell when crushed, usually a single dark floret in the flower center. The rhyme: 'the queen has hairy legs.'

Rule: If the stem is smooth with purple spots — walk away.

Illustration: Poison hemlock vs. wild carrot — stem comparison