Poison hemlock is spreading in Ohio, but these are the five most poisonous plants in the Buckeye State

It's one of the deadliest plants in North America, and it's all over Ohio. 

Great, you were probably just now getting comfortable being outside following more than a year of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. But now a plant called poison hemlock is "spreading like wildlife and by water and flood plains," according to Jason Hartschuh, Ohio State University Extension agent for Crawford County.

However, unlike a pandemic which is usually a once-in-a-century thing, Ohio has always had poisonous plants and they don't even have 17-year cycles like cicadas (the other thing that may have kept Ohioans inside lately). 

Poison hemlock and wild parsnips have been around for a few years and caused problems. Poison hemlock is dangerous if you eat it or rub it in your eyes, while wild parsnips can cause blisters if you touch it.

Seek medical attention if those things happen. 

As you flock to Ohio's state parks and your local hiking trails this summer, you may be asking: What are the most dangerous and poisonous plants in Ohio?

Here are 5 of the most poisonous plants in Ohio. 

Jimsonweed, also called Jamestown weed or thorn apple 

Datura stramonium, or Jimsonweed, grows in rich soil and has an unpleasant smell. 

It has a toxic alkaloid and all parts of the plant are poisonous. It is more common to harm animals, who usually don't eat it. Convulsions, coma and death in animals are preceded by early signs of poisoning, such as rapid pulse and nervousness.

Wild four-o'clock 

Mirabilis Nyctaginaceae, or wild four-o'clock , grows in pastures, gardens and waste areas and is a bushy perennial.

The seeds and roots of wild four-o'clock are toxic because they contain an alkaloid that can cause gastrointestinal distress. 

Horsenettle 

Solanum carolinense, or horsenettle  is a weed that grows in Ohio that prefers sandy and gravelly soils and can be found along the road and fields.

It's part of the nightshade family (you know, the poison that killed King Joffrey in "Game of Thrones"... spoiler alert?). Well, horsenettle usually affects livestock, but it also produces a yellow berry that is deadly, especially to children.      

Poison sumac

You know a plant is poisonous when then Latin name for it is "Toxicodendron vernix." Poison sumac grows in swamps and other wet areas.

Poison sumac is a deciduous shrub or small tree, so its leaves turn red in the autumn and drop off. In terms of allergic reactions, it can be worse than poison ivy or poison oak.

Poison sumac is the most toxic plant in the United States. 

Poison ivy

Wait, so if poison sumac is the most toxic plant in the United States, it should be the deadliest, right? Well, every part of poison ivy contains urushiol, an oil that causes severe swelling, blistering and itching upon contact with the skin.

It's widespread not just in Ohio but throughout most of the country and can grow anywhere.

Even inhaled, poison ivy is dangerous. You can be poisoned by it from just touching clothes or pets that have come in contact with it. 

How can you spot poison ivy in the wild? Remember, "leaves of three, let it be.” The plant has become particularly