Louisiana Citizens Warned About Dangerous Plant Outdoors

(Lafayette, Louisiana) -  The days are warming up in South Louisiana, and more and more of us are outdoors, but there's one potential danger you need to know about.

While the flowers are blooming and tempting to touch, there's one attractive plant or flower that you and the kids need to avoid.

A recent social media post educated me on the dangers of poison hemlock, and I want to share that warning with you so that you know what to look for and what to avoid while outdoors this summer.

Poison Hemlock may look like an innocent plant, but ask anyone who has come into contact with it and they will tell you just how painful the consequences are after coming into contact with it.

The poisonous plant is thriving this spring because of the large amounts of rainfall in recent months, and soon you may see this white flower everywhere, and like most flowers, it can be attractive to you and the kids.

The last thing you want to do is come into contact with this plant, and you certainly do not want to consume it. Those who have touched it say that the reaction is 100 percent more painful than that of poison ivy. Now, for those who have come into contact with poison ivy, you already know that it's like, imagine that pain times 100.

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So, how can you tell if you're about to come into contact with Poison Hemlock? You have to look at the stem of the plant, and if you see purple splotches, then that is a sign it's poison hemlock.

The Cleveland Clinic says, "Severe symptoms can start within 15 minutes of ingestion. Unfortunately, there’s no antidote. Therefore, be careful when handling poison hemlock or any other plants you’re unfamiliar with."

Remember, not all white plants are poisonous, but the ones with purple splotches can be a danger to you, your kids, and perhaps even your pets.

Here's a quick tutorial on this poisonous plant that seems to be everywhere this spring. This is certainly a good watch for those who will be outdoors in the months ahead.