Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; widely distributed throughout North America.

Habitat: Roadsides, fields, wastelots, and other disturbed open areas, often where soil is moist.

Flowers: April-August

Origin: Introduced from Europe

Growth Duration: Biennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Edibility: EXTREMELY TOXIC EVEN IN SMALL AMOUNTS WHEN INGESTED BY HUMANS AND LIVESTOCK.

Pollination: Generalist

Coarse, freely-branched biennials from a stout taproot, 0.5-3 m. tall, with purple-spotted, hollow stem.

Leaves large, all cauline, ternate-pinnately dissected, the ultimate segments small.

Compound umbels numerous, the rays sub-equal, 1-4 cm. long; involucre and involucel of several small, lanceolate bracts or bractlets; calyx teeth obsolete; petals 5, white.

Stylopodium depressed-conic; fruit glabrous, broadly ovoid, 2-2.5 mm. long, with prominent, raised, wavy, almost-winged ribs.

EXTREMELY TOXIC EVEN IN SMALL AMOUNTS WHEN INGESTED BY HUMANS AND LIVESTOCK.