Re: hemlock..not to drink...to drink...not
- Subject: Re: hemlock..not to drink...to drink...not
- From: G* O*
- Date: Tue, 08 May 2001 08:03:17 -0400
Joel,
The hemlock used for the execution of Socrates in ancient Greece was
probably Poison Hemlock, *Conium maculatum*, a member of the Umbelliferae
family. It is native to Eurasia and has been introduced and subsequently
naturalized throughout the U.S. It resembles Queen Anne's Lace or Wild
Carrot, but is coarser, much larger and has purple spots on the green stem.
Here in East Tennessee it's fairly common.
The juices are extremely poisonous. According to "American Medicinal
Plants" by C. F. Millspaugh, the potion was patially or completely composed
of the fresh juices of the plants. There are several active ingredients,
most of them alkyloids, present in all parts of the plant, and soluble in
water.
Gerry
At 09:15 PM 5/7/01 -0400, you wrote:
>=================================
>
>
>I received an inquiry beyond my scope of knowledge of
>plants.
>
>The great scholars of ancient Greece talk about the use of
>hemlock as a *poison* potion.
>Question: what part(s) of the plant are used and how is the
>potion prepared?
>
>
>regards
>Joel
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>=================================
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
>message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS
>
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS
