The following is a list and description of various plant species which could poison livestock and humans. The leaves are repeatedly divided into three parts, and the flowers are white, very small, and grow in umbrella-like flat clusters which appear in July and August. Water hemlock also has a tuber-like root that smells like parsnips and is the plant part that has the highest concentration of toxin. Water hemlock poses a threat to humans as well as livestock because it can be mistaken for common parsnip. The toxin in water hemlock is one of the most dangerous poisons produced in plants and can cause acute distress, convulsions, and death within one or two hours of consumption.
Water hemlock occurs most commonly with moist soils in eastern North Dakota.
Both plants are perennial species which grow 1 to 2 feet tall, have multiple leaflets attached at one point, pea-shaped flowers, and flat seed pods 1 to 2 inches long. The seeds and pods are especially poisonous and sheep are most often affected. Lupine poisoning can result in frothing, trembling, excitement, and butting into other animals and objects. Camas is a lily or onion-like perennial plant which grows from an elongated white bulb to a height of 1 to 2.5 feet tall with small white flowers. Camas poisoning results in rapid breathing, excess salivation, convulsions, and possible death.