Cicuta maculata var. angustifolia
Narrow leafed water hemlock
Photo: parent species Cicuta maculata · no rights reserved, uploaded by Megan Blackmore · CC0
Family: Apiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Cicuta maculata var. angustifolia (Narrow leafed water hemlock) is a native California herb in the Apiaceae family, recognized by Overlaps with C. douglasii. Key features: ovate fruit with narrow ribs, small circular veinlet areas.
Narrow leafed water hemlock is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, San Bernardino Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, and Great Basin in wet meadows at elevations of 900 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces delicate white flowers in small, clustered umbels. Growing with tall, hollow stems that are often marked with distinctive purple or reddish-brown streaks, it reaches heights of 50 to 150 centimeters. Its leaves are complex, generally divided into one or two levels of pinnate segments with finely dissected leaflets. This highly toxic plant is notable for its dangerous water-loving habitat and intricate leaf structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Overlaps with C. douglasii. Key features: ovate fruit with narrow ribs, small circular veinlet areas
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet meadows
Elevation: 900-2100 m
California counties: Inyo, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Mono, Modoc, Tehama, Siskiyou, San Bernardino, San Diego
Bloom period
Cicuta maculata var. angustifolia blooms Jun-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Conium: Cicuta has green stems and sap that turns red-brown; Conium has purple-spotted stems.; vs Angelica: Cicuta sap turns reddish-brown in air; Angelica lacks this color-changing sap.; vs Oenanthe: Cicuta spreads from rhizomes with color-changing sap; Oenanthe has tuberous roots with crowned fruits.; vs Sambucus: Sambucus is a woody shrub with compound leaves; Cicuta is an herbaceous wetland plant.; vs Perideridia: Cicuta grows in wetlands from rhizomes; Perideridia grows in dry grasslands from tubers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cicuta maculata var. angustifolia native to California?
Yes. Cicuta maculata var. angustifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cicuta maculata var. angustifolia bloom?
Cicuta maculata var. angustifolia blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Cicuta maculata var. angustifolia grow?
Cicuta maculata var. angustifolia occurs in Inyo, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Mono, Modoc, Tehama, Siskiyou, San Bernardino and other counties, at elevations of 900-2100 m.
What plant family does Cicuta maculata var. angustifolia belong to?
Cicuta maculata var. angustifolia is in the Apiaceae family, genus Cicuta.
What habitat does Cicuta maculata var. angustifolia grow in?
Cicuta maculata var. angustifolia grows in Wet meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.