Hemlock spotted (omega). Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

CULTURAL AND WILD PLANTS
Free library / Directory / Cultivated and wild plants

Spotted hemlock (omega), Conium maculatum. Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

cultivated and wild plants. Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

Directory / Cultivated and wild plants

Comments on the article

Content

Photos, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism
Genus, family, origin, range, chemical composition, economic importance
Botanical description, reference data, useful information, illustrations

Spotted hemlock (omega), Conium maculatum. Photos of the plant, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Hemlock spotted (omega)

Basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Sort by: Hemlock (Conium)

Family: Umbelliferae (Apiaceae)

Origin: Europe, North Africa, West Asia

Area: Spotted hemlock is common in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia.

Chemical composition: The plant contains toxic alkaloids, including coniine and gamma-conicine, which cause muscle paralysis and can be deadly if consumed in large amounts. In addition, the plant contains carotenoids, quercetin and other biologically active compounds.

Economic value: Hemlock is used medicinally to treat abdominal pain, cramps, rheumatism, and other ailments. However, the use of the plant should only be carried out under the supervision of a physician, as it is toxic and can be hazardous to human health. In folk medicine, hemlock infusions are sometimes used as a sleeping pill or sedative. In addition, some parts of the plant can be used as insecticides to protect plants from pests.

Legends and myths: In Greek mythology, omega was considered a plant created by the god of death, Hades. According to legend, Hades created a plant from the tears shed by him for the love of the goddess Persephone. Omega was considered a symbol of death and bringing misfortune. Hemlock spotted is considered a symbol of danger, death and disease. Its use in interior design stems from the belief in its ability to warn of potential dangers and protect against disease.

Spotted hemlock (omega), Conium maculatum. Description, illustrations of the plant

Spotted hemlock (omega), Conium maculatum. Botanical description of the plant, areas of growth and ecology, economic importance, applications

Hemlock spotted (omega)

Spotted hemlock is a biennial herbaceous plant, a species of the hemlock genus (Conium) of the Umbrella family (Apiaceae).

Root spindle-shaped, whitish.

Stem 60-180 cm high, branched, thinly furrowed, hollow, glabrous together with leaves, sometimes with a bluish bloom and with reddish-brown spots in the lower part. Because of these spots, it is called "spotted". In the first year of life, a bunch of basal leaves develops, and in the second year, a stem develops.

The leaves are alternate. The lower leaves are petiolate, thrice-pinnate (reminiscent of parsley leaves), broadly triangular, 30-60 cm long; primary and secondary lobes on petioles, tertiary, except for the lowest, sessile; tertiary lobes oblong-ovate, deeply pinnately dissected into ovate-lanceolate pointed, sometimes with a short whitish tip of the lobule. The middle and upper leaves are smaller and less complex, almost sessile, with a narrow sheath. The terminal lobes of the leaves are oblong, pinnately incised or separate.

The flowers are small, white, five-dimensional. Umbrellas numerous, collected in corymbose-paniculate inflorescences with 12-20 rays slightly rough on the inner side. Involucral leaflets few, ovate-lanceolate, narrowly margined, indistinctly serrated at margins, folded down, one-sided, three to five in number, fused at their bases, glabrous, shorter or slightly longer than the rays of the umbel. Petals five, free, white, obovate heart-shaped with a short, incurved lobule. Stamens five, alternating with petals. Pistil with lower bilocular ovary and two styles about 1 mm long, ending in blunt stigmas; subcolume short-conical, almost half as long as style. Blooms in June - July.

The fruits are almost round or ovoid, light brown two-seeded seeds, slightly laterally compressed, with five protruding wavy ribs; break up into two semi-fruits (mericarp) 3-3,5 mm long. Fruits in August - September. Weight of 1000 "seeds" (semi-fruits) 1,3-1,4 g.

All parts of the plant, when rubbed in the hand, emit an unpleasant mouse smell.

In nature, the range of the species covers North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Ethiopia; the whole territory of Europe; temperate regions of Asia from Turkey to China.

It grows on forest edges, water meadows, limestone slopes, as a weed in crops and vegetable gardens, on fallow land and wastelands, near housing, along roads and fences, in landfills, along the slopes of ravines, along railway tracks.

Hemlock spotted (omega)

Poisonous properties are determined by the alkaloids coniine (the most poisonous), N-methylconiine, conhydrin, pseudoconhydrin, conicein. It also contains fatty oil, which includes glycerides of petroselinic and petroselidic acids. Hemlock fruits contain up to 2% alkaloids, leaves - up to 0,1%, flowers - up to 0,24%, seeds - up to 2%; up to 0,08% - essential oil and caffeic acid. Quercetin (part of the vitamin P group) and kaempferol have been isolated from the flowers.

Hemlock in Scotland loses its alkaloids, and in Armenia it is even eaten.

In ancient Greece, it was used as the "official" poison, which was used to poison those condemned to death. It is believed that Socrates and Phocion were poisoned with hemlock poison. Since the time of Hippocrates, it has been considered a medicinal plant.

Previously, hemlock preparations were widely used in medicine for various diseases, but due to the unreliability of the therapeutic effect and cases of poisoning during treatment, doctors almost stopped using hemlock as a medicine.

There are known cases of poisoning of starving cattle.

The sap of the plant, which contains tannins, is suitable for tanning some types of leather (however, due to toxicity, it is rarely used for this purpose).

Insecticide.

Honey plant, but strong toxicity excludes the possibility of its use as a honey plant.

We recommend interesting articles Section Cultivated and wild plants:

▪ Cashew (show)

▪ Bittersweet nightshade

▪ Thermopsis lanceolate (Thermopsis lanceolate, Thermopsis lupine)

▪ Play the game "Guess the plant from the picture"

See other articles Section Cultivated and wild plants.

Comments on the article Read and write useful comments on this article.

<< Back

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

Energy from space for Starship 08.05.2024

Producing solar energy in space is becoming more feasible with the advent of new technologies and the development of space programs. The head of the startup Virtus Solis shared his vision of using SpaceX's Starship to create orbital power plants capable of powering the Earth. Startup Virtus Solis has unveiled an ambitious project to create orbital power plants using SpaceX's Starship. This idea could significantly change the field of solar energy production, making it more accessible and cheaper. The core of the startup's plan is to reduce the cost of launching satellites into space using Starship. This technological breakthrough is expected to make solar energy production in space more competitive with traditional energy sources. Virtual Solis plans to build large photovoltaic panels in orbit, using Starship to deliver the necessary equipment. However, one of the key challenges ... >>

New method for creating powerful batteries 08.05.2024

With the development of technology and the expanding use of electronics, the issue of creating efficient and safe energy sources is becoming increasingly urgent. Researchers at the University of Queensland have unveiled a new approach to creating high-power zinc-based batteries that could change the landscape of the energy industry. One of the main problems with traditional water-based rechargeable batteries was their low voltage, which limited their use in modern devices. But thanks to a new method developed by scientists, this drawback has been successfully overcome. As part of their research, scientists turned to a special organic compound - catechol. It turned out to be an important component that can improve battery stability and increase its efficiency. This approach has led to a significant increase in the voltage of zinc-ion batteries, making them more competitive. According to scientists, such batteries have several advantages. They have b ... >>

Alcohol content of warm beer 07.05.2024

Beer, as one of the most common alcoholic drinks, has its own unique taste, which can change depending on the temperature of consumption. A new study by an international team of scientists has found that beer temperature has a significant impact on the perception of alcoholic taste. The study, led by materials scientist Lei Jiang, found that at different temperatures, ethanol and water molecules form different types of clusters, which affects the perception of alcoholic taste. At low temperatures, more pyramid-like clusters form, which reduces the pungency of the "ethanol" taste and makes the drink taste less alcoholic. On the contrary, as the temperature increases, the clusters become more chain-like, resulting in a more pronounced alcoholic taste. This explains why the taste of some alcoholic drinks, such as baijiu, can change depending on temperature. The data obtained opens up new prospects for beverage manufacturers, ... >>

Random news from the Archive

Map made by cod 07.02.2012

Employees of the Danish Institute of Water Resources fished 140 cod from the North Sea, fixed acoustic sensors on them and released them again. By receiving signals from beacons, you can monitor the movements of fish.

On the map, compiled according to the signals, it turned out to be quite clearly outlined, like on the sonar screen, sunken ships lying on the bottom from the Second World War. Cod feed on small organisms that gather around any massive object that has sunk to the bottom. Since the signals of the beacons are individualized, it is possible to follow the routes of individual fish.

It turned out that the majority regularly return to "their" ship, and some prefer to spend the day on it, while others prefer the night.

Other interesting news:

▪ Key Optical Transistor Technology

▪ Humidifier Purifier

▪ M25P64 serial flash chip

▪ Fever machine - a cure for depression

▪ Moidodyr for shopping carts

News feed of science and technology, new electronics

Interesting materials of the Free Technical Library:

▪ section of the site Standard instructions for labor protection (TOI). Selection of articles

▪ article Organic chemistry. Crib

▪ article Which European capital has a name glued together from the names of two former cities? Detailed answer

▪ article Spleenwort ordinary. Legends, cultivation, methods of application

▪ article Stroboscope for disco. Encyclopedia of radio electronics and electrical engineering

▪ article Voltage converter for flash. Encyclopedia of radio electronics and electrical engineering

Leave your comment on this article:

All languages of this page

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews