Toxic water hemlock found at White Rock Lake in Dallas; efforts to eliminate underway
Poisonous water hemlock has been found at Dallas’ White Rock Lake, prompting emergency herbicide application Friday, according to a news release.
Water hemlock, a poisonous plant that grows from about 1.5 feet to 3 feet in height with small clusters of white flowers in an umbrella formation, is highly toxic, violent convulsive. It can cause convulsions in as little as 10 minutes. The primary way the plant causes poisoning is from ingestion, but it can occur through skin contact.
If you see the plant, stay away from it and immediately contact poison control.
If the city’s efforts to kill the invasive, toxic plant are successful, the plant will dry up and its roots will be killed to neutralize toxicity to human health, the city said in the release.
Dallas park maintenance staff know of several locations around the lakefront at which the plant is growing, in an area where park attendees could accidentally come into contact with it, according to the release.