CINCINNATI, Ohio – Poison hemlock and wild parsnip have been around Ohio for decades. But the abundance of rain throughout the state has caused their growth to explode. 

And both weeds can cause serious health issues. 

“Identify it, teach your children about it just like your teach your children about poison ivy,” said Joe Boggs, Assistant Professor at Ohio State University Extension and Department of Entomology. 

Poison hemlock is most famously, or perhaps infamous, for the death of Socrates more than 2,000 years ago. It's also linked to a variety of animal deaths. 

Boggs said people in Ohio need to be aware of the dangerous weeds. 

“Both of them represent a different type of risk. The sap from wild parsnip if you get it on your skin causes a reaction that then leads to something very much like second-degree burns.”

Poison hemlock can actually kill you if ingested. Whereas the mere touching of sap from wild parsnip can cause a skin reaction, poison hemlock can be carefully touched without any reaction. But if its juice gets on your fingers and you touch your eyes or put them in your mouth, it can lead to death. 

Poison hemlock has a white, umbrella shaped flower. It can grow eight feet tall. It's often confused with wild carrot which has a similar flower but is more flat. Wild carrot is actually edible, and its confusion with poison hemlock is what causes health problems. 

Wild parsnip, related to edible parsnip, is has yellow flowers and is flat. It grows more like a bush. 

Both poison hemlock and wild parsnip are found in Ohio fields, along highways, and near creeks and rivers. 

Boggs said mowing is an option to get rid of the weeds, but that often helps them grow in other places. Their both biennials, meaning they grow every two years. But even if Ohio suffers a drought next spring, the weeds would still likely be abundant, according to Boggs. 

The best option is likely seeking professional assistance to remove the weeds. 

Poison hemlock came to the U.S. in the late-1,800's as an ornamental. Experts aren't sure how wild parsnip came to the U.S. 

Symptoms of skin irritation from wild parsnip can sometimes take a day or two to materialize. The most serious issues are usually burns and blisters.  

As Boggs notes to most people who ask about hemlock and wild parsnip, just avoid it the same way you'd avoid poison ivy.