Water dropwort
Encyclopedia
The water dropworts, Oenanthe icon, are a genus
of plants in the family Apiaceae
. Most of the species
grow in damp ground, in marshes or in water.
Several of the species are extremely poisonous, the active poison being oenanthotoxin
. The most notable of these is O. crocata, which lives in damp, marshy ground, and resembles celery
with roots like a bunch of large white carrot
s. The leaves may be eaten safely by livestock
, but the stems, and especially the carbohydrate-rich roots are much more poisonous. Animals familiar with eating the leaves may eat the roots when these are exposed during ditch clearance – one root is sufficient to kill a cow, and human fatalities are also known. It has been referred to as the most poisonous of all British plants, and is considered particularly dangerous because of its similarity to several edible plants.
The species O. javanica
, commonly known as Chinese celery or Japanese parsley (seri; not to be confused with mitsuba or Japanese wild celery
, a plant from a different genus) is edible and grown in several countries of eastern Asia
, as well as in Italy
and India
, where the spring growth is relished as a vegetable.
The name "water dropwort" comes from the close resemblance of some of the smaller species (which mainly grow in wet ground) to dropwort
(Filipendula vulgaris) (Rosaceae), an unrelated plant of dry grassland.
in Italy
claimed to have identified hemlock water dropwort (Oenanthe crocata) as the plant responsible for producing the sardonic grin
. This plant is the most-likely candidate for the "sardonic herb," which was a neurotoxic
plant used for the ritual killing
of elderly people in Phoenicia
n Sardinia
. When these people were unable to support themselves, they were intoxicated with this herb and then dropped from a high rock or beaten to death. Criminals were also executed in this way.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of plants in the family Apiaceae
Apiaceae
The Apiaceae , commonly known as carrot or parsley family, is a group of mostly aromatic plants with hollow stems. The family is large, with more than 3,700 species spread across 434 genera, it is the sixteenth largest family of flowering plants...
. Most of the species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
grow in damp ground, in marshes or in water.
Several of the species are extremely poisonous, the active poison being oenanthotoxin
Oenanthotoxin
Oenanthotoxin is a toxin extracted from hemlock water dropwort and other plants of the genus Oenanthe. It is a central nervous system poison, and acts as a noncompetitive gamma-aminobutyric acid antagonist. This toxin played some role in euthanasia in ancient Sardinia, for inducing risus...
. The most notable of these is O. crocata, which lives in damp, marshy ground, and resembles celery
Celery
Apium graveolens is a plant species in the family Apiaceae commonly known as celery or celeriac , depending on whether the petioles or roots are eaten: celery refers to the former and celeriac to the latter. Apium graveolens grows to 1 m tall...
with roots like a bunch of large white carrot
Carrot
The carrot is a root vegetable, usually orange in colour, though purple, red, white, and yellow varieties exist. It has a crisp texture when fresh...
s. The leaves may be eaten safely by livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
, but the stems, and especially the carbohydrate-rich roots are much more poisonous. Animals familiar with eating the leaves may eat the roots when these are exposed during ditch clearance – one root is sufficient to kill a cow, and human fatalities are also known. It has been referred to as the most poisonous of all British plants, and is considered particularly dangerous because of its similarity to several edible plants.
The species O. javanica
Oenanthe javanica
Japanese parsley or Chinese celery is a plant of the water dropwort genus originating from East Asia.While many other species of water dropwort are extremely toxic, Oenanthe javanica is edible, and is cultivated in the People's Republic of China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand , the...
, commonly known as Chinese celery or Japanese parsley (seri; not to be confused with mitsuba or Japanese wild celery
Cryptotaenia
Cryptotaenia is a genus of two species of herbaceous perennial plants, native to North America and eastern Asia, growing wild in moist, shady places.-Species:*Cryptotaenia canadensis...
, a plant from a different genus) is edible and grown in several countries of eastern Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, as well as in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, where the spring growth is relished as a vegetable.
Names
"Oenanthe" is derived from the Greek oinos "wine" and anthos "flower", from the wine-like scent of the flowers.The name "water dropwort" comes from the close resemblance of some of the smaller species (which mainly grow in wet ground) to dropwort
Dropwort
Dropwort , also known as Fern-leaf Dropwort, is a perennial herb of the family Rosaceae closely related to Meadowsweet...
(Filipendula vulgaris) (Rosaceae), an unrelated plant of dry grassland.
Sardonic grin
Scientists at the University of Eastern PiedmontUniversity of Eastern Piedmont
The University of Eastern Piedmont Amedeo Avogadro is a university located in Alessandria, Novara and Vercelli, Italy. It was founded in 1998 and is organized in 7 faculties...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
claimed to have identified hemlock water dropwort (Oenanthe crocata) as the plant responsible for producing the sardonic grin
Risus sardonicus
Risus sardonicus is a highly characteristic, abnormal, sustained spasm of the facial muscles that appears to produce grinning.The name of the condition derives from the appearance of raised eyebrows and an open "grin" - which can appear malevolent to the lay observer - displayed by those suffering...
. This plant is the most-likely candidate for the "sardonic herb," which was a neurotoxic
Neurotoxin
A neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells , usually by interacting with membrane proteins such as ion channels. Some sources are more general, and define the effect of neurotoxins as occurring at nerve tissue...
plant used for the ritual killing
Human sacrifice
Human sacrifice is the act of killing one or more human beings as part of a religious ritual . Its typology closely parallels the various practices of ritual slaughter of animals and of religious sacrifice in general. Human sacrifice has been practised in various cultures throughout history...
of elderly people in Phoenicia
Phoenicia
Phoenicia , was an ancient civilization in Canaan which covered most of the western, coastal part of the Fertile Crescent. Several major Phoenician cities were built on the coastline of the Mediterranean. It was an enterprising maritime trading culture that spread across the Mediterranean from 1550...
n Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
. When these people were unable to support themselves, they were intoxicated with this herb and then dropped from a high rock or beaten to death. Criminals were also executed in this way.