What is the most toxic part of the water hemlock plant?
The tubers contain the highest concentration of cicutoxin, with little cicutoxin found in the above ground parts and are reported to be the most toxic plant part. The stems and leaves of mature plants are thought to be relatively nontoxic, but can contain cicutoxin during early growth.
Welch KD, Stonecipher CA, Lee ST, Cook D. The acute toxicity of water hemlock (Cicuta douglasii) in a goat model. Toxicon. 2020 Mar;176:55-58. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.02.010. Epub 2020 Feb 11. PMID: 32103796.
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