I grew this Hemlock from seeds I bought from Richters. Pretty leaves for such a deadly plant.In ancient Greece hemlock was used to poison condemned prisoners, the most famous of which was Socrates (who was condemned to death in 399 BC for impiety). Plato described Socrates' death in the Phaedo:
The man...laid his hands on him and after a while examined his feet and legs, then pinched his foot hard and asked if he felt it. He said "No"; then after that, his thighs; and passing upwards in this way he showed us that he was growing cold and rigid. And then again he touched him and said that when it reached his heart, he would be gone. The chill had now reached the region about his groin, and uncovering his face, which had been covered, he said - and these were his last words - "Crito, we owe a cock to Asclepius. Pay it and do not neglect it." "That," said Crito, "shall be done; but see if you have anything else to say." To this question he made no reply, but after a little while he moved; the attendant uncovered him; his eyes were fixed. And Crito when he saw it, closed his mouth and eyes.
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