At first you might confuse this plant with Anthriscus sylvestris (Cow Parsley) because they both have lightish green foliage with feathery leaves and a typical white umbellifer top. The differences are noticeable when you've trained your eye. Conium maculatum has a lighter shade of green foliage to me and it starts to flower slightly later when the Anthriscus is already in full bloom. When you get close to the plant, you are immediately aware that the stem is (usually) covered in purple blotches (hence maculatum = spotty). It is famously poisonous being the plant used to make a potion which Socrates was required to drink after being sentenced to death.
These days Conium maculatum is rapidly becoming a pest and huge stands of the plant can appear on verges of main roads and even motorways.
Waste ground, Ellesmere Port 18th May 2005
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Added on 18th May 2005