11.06.2025 01:33
Dr. Fergan Karaer from Ondokuz Mayıs University emphasized the importance of recognizing poisonous plants, such as hemlock, at the Local Herb Dishes Festival held in Bafra. Karaer stated, "There is a plant called hemlock, which is very poisonous. Hemlock is often confused with fennel and parsley. Its leaves resemble those of parsley."
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Fergan Karaer, Assistant Professor at the Department of Science Education of Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU), participated in an event for the discovery and promotion of wild herbs with students and citizens in the rural area of Sürmeli Neighborhood, Bafra district, as part of the "8th Samsun Regional Wild Herb Dishes Festival".
"IT LOOKS LIKE PARSLEY BUT IS DEADLY"
Karaer stated that there are very similar plants in nature, which are often confused with each other. He mentioned that he prefers to give practical lessons in nature to his students for this reason, emphasizing that this way the plants are recognized in their natural habitat.
Karaer drew attention to the fact that one of two similar plants can be medicinal while the other can be poisonous, noting that there have been many cases related to this. He said, "There is a plant called poison hemlock (Conium Macatalum), which is very poisonous. Poison hemlock is often confused with fennel and parsley. Its leaves look like parsley. People often mistake it for parsley. Of course, you can't say, 'Just take a taste,' because it is a very poisonous plant."
"CAN BE DISTINGUISHED FROM ITS ACTUAL FLOWER"
Karaer expressed that to prevent poisoning, poison hemlock must be well recognized, stating: "The stem of poison hemlock is spotted. It can be distinguished from there. It can be distinguished from its actual flower. I am trying to explain these. This is a plant that has been part of mythology for a long time. It is a very poisonous plant. Generally, people curse by saying 'May you eat poison hemlock.' It is often confused with parsley and fennel. This is very serious. The more information they have about this, the more they can save themselves."
"NORMALLY NOT A POISONOUS PLANT BUT..."
Karaer explained that due to the suspicion of plants being poisonous, their tastes cannot be tested. He mentioned that the thorny plant is known, but it is not recognized because it will turn into a thorn by June. He also pointed out that blackberry and raspberry are often confused, stating, "There is also a plant called spurge, which is poisonous. There is also a plant called watercress, which can be used for cleaning water. It is not normally a poisonous plant, but when you take in heavy metals from the water, it can have a toxic effect on you."
MOBILE PHONE APPLICATIONS MAY NOT RECOGNIZE SOME PLANTS
Karaer noted that there are applications on mobile phones that allow users to take pictures of plants and show what species they are, but they do not always provide accurate information. He stated, "The way to learn this is to ask a knowledgeable person about the plant or continue researching. The easiest way is to ask an expert."
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