Hey, about Conium maculatum, does it grow in France? I know it's native to Europe, but I'm not sure if it grows in France, which is the setting of my story.
Hey there writingisproseandpotatoes!
Good question! I couldn’t find anything in either about whether or not it truly grows in France, so my best guess is: very, very likely.
And here’s why!
(x)
See, the funny thing about climate zones is that you can take a plant from one area… say in the far north and take it to an area in the far west of the same climate zone and chances are the plant will grow in defiance of everything.
So even though we can’t say for sure whether or not it grows in France, we can make a well-estimated guess on this one.
Europe lies in the temperate zone, so that’s the climate you need for Conium maculatum, and further conditions for its growth are actually found almost everywhere in that zone. As it prefers dry, rough grassland, roadsides, including the sides of railroads and disturbed ground (like where a forest has been cleared.) Also areas near fence rows and along streambanks, or just among your regular ol’ livestock pastures.
Given that you’ll find a great number of the above in France and it also belongs in the right climate zone, I’d say go ahead and give your character some Conium maculatum. It’s plausible, even on the off chance that it’s not common in France!
- Mod Jana