The actually non-poisonous yarrow (Achillea) with its numerous subspecies belongs to the daisy family and should therefore be treated with a little caution, even by sensitive people. The far greater danger, however, is that similar plants are regularly confused with the popular medicinal plant.
What poisonous plants can yarrow be confused with?
Yarrow (Achillea) can easily be confused with the poisonous spotted hemlock or giant hogweed. While hemlock causes severe symptoms of poisoning when consumed, skin contact with giant hogweed alone leads to painful burns.
Specific dangers due to the likelihood of confusion with yarrow
Confusion with the so-called meadowfoam is still relatively harmless, as this itself is also an edible herb. The situation is different if, instead of yarrow, a poisonous counterpart such as spotted hemlock or giant hogweed, which comes from the Caucasus, is cut for use in the kitchen, as a medicinal plant or for dry bouquets. After all, these two plants can cause serious he alth problems, and not only if accidentally consumed. Simply touching it is often enough for extremely unpleasant burn blisters to form on the skin.
The Spotted Hemlock
The spotted hemlock (Conium maculatum) actually grows significantly taller than the yarrow, growing up to two meters tall. However, there is still a risk of confusion with younger specimens of the plant that have not yet reached their full height. Spotted hemlock can be identified by the reddish spots on the stems. The plant also emits a pungent smell that is unpleasant to humans and is vaguely reminiscent of mouse urine. The possible symptoms of eating plant parts are due to the alkaloids they contain:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Burning in the mouth
- Nerve paralysis and respiratory arrest
The Giant Hogweed
Another extremely poisonous doppelganger with a real risk of confusion when collecting yarrow is the giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum). This was introduced from the Caucasus region and has spread widely in many natural landscapes. Even more than with spotted hemlock, mere skin contact with this plant is dangerous. The giant hogweed differs significantly from the yarrow due to its leaves, but it still sometimes appears similar to children due to the white umbel flowers. If the plant is touched with bare hands, burn wounds can form that last for weeks and are exacerbated by exposure to sunlight.
Tip
In order to recognize the yarrow without any doubt, you should take a close look at the pictures and, if possible, have an expert show it in nature. In general, in the garden and on excursions into nature with children, the motto is that unknown or unidentifiable plants should not be touched and certainly not eaten.
