Cicuta may be confused with a number of other edible and poisonous plants. The common name hemlock may also be confused with poison hemlock ("Conium maculatum"), or with the Hemlock tree. Water hemlock is considered one of North America's most toxic plants, being highly poisonous to humans. Three members of the genus contain a toxin named cicutoxin which causes central nervous system stimulatory effects including seizures following ingestion. Medical treatment of poisoning may include the use of activated charcoal to decrease gastrointestinal absorption of the toxic principle along with supportive care including anticonvulsant drugs such as a benzodiazepine. High doses of
Mimic poison frog other "Ranitomeya" species, "R. imitator" has a mild toxicity compared to other poison dart frogs. It produces the potent pumiliotoxin B, but its small size limits the amount of poison it can secrete. Like other poison dart frogs, it does not produce toxin in captivity. It probably gains its poison from consuming toxic insects or other invertebrates in the wild. Frogs of the related genus "Phyllobates" may derive their toxins from local melyrid beetles of genus "Choresine". "Ranitomeya imitator" and related frogs exhibit a degree of parental care, with the female laying feeder eggs for the tadpoles to eat. This