Victorin's water-hemlock (Cicuta maculata) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 9

The species is of interest to scientists because it draws attention to the issue of the origin and diversification of the endemic flora of the estuarine shores of the St. Lawrence River (Marie Victorin, 1995).  The intertidal zone is also the specialized habitat for the following species (Bouchard et al., 1983): Victorin’s water hemlock and the following species:  Bidens eatonii, Epilobium cliliatum var. ecomosum, Erigeron philadelphicus var. provancheri, Eriocaulon parkeri, Gentianopsis procera subsp. macounii var. victorinii (sub Gentianella crinita subsp. victorinii), Gratiola neglecta var. glaberrima, Lycopus americanus var. laurentianus, Physostegia virginiana var. granulosa, Polygonum punctatum var. parvum and Zizania aquatica var. brevis.

Some water-hemlocks have recognized medicinal properties, but no studies have yet been conducted on Victorin’s water hemlock.  Cicutoxin exhibits antileukemic activity and is probably an anticarcinogen (Harborne and Baxter, 1993).  Some American Aboriginal peoples used water-hemlock for medicinal or prophylactic purposes (Heywood, 1971).  No information has been found on the use of Victorin’s water-hemlock by Aboriginal peoples in Canada.

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