Giant Hogweed. It conjures an image of an over-sized, ugly plant that's more of a nuisance than anything else, and in some ways you'd be partially right. But this impressive and invasive plant is more than that too...it's also very poisonous.
Last month, this curious plant was brought to attention in the
local media because there has been a growing concern over these plants spreading through Western New York counties. Even though it grows in more rural areas, this plant is popping up on federal land, privately-owned land and town land, and it's not been found (yet) on state land.
Giant Hogweed, (Heracleum mantegazzianum), is distinguished by it's size, growing to a height of 15 feet, with an umbrella-shaped flower clusters that can span up to 5 feet in diameter. The green stalks have bristle-like hairs with purple spots.
Giant Hogweed is a
photo-toxic plant, which means that it's sap can cause skin to blister that's exposed to sunlight. When the sap first touches skin, it turns the skin red and it begins to itch. Blisters then form within the next 48 hours, which then turn into burns. The burns can leave scarring that last several years. As well, the sap can cause blindness if it's gotten into the eyes.
This non-native and invasive plant can often be
mistaken for other plants, such as Cow Parsnip, Angelica, Queen Anne's Lace, Wild Lettuce and
some others. The differences are in size and of course, toxicity. Because of Giant Hogweed toxicity, it is aggressively removed from sites in the UK and in the United States.
Once found and identified, it's advised not to try removing these plants yourself, but rather call your local conservation department, so that they can not only remove the plants but record the plant's locations. The
New York State Department of Health says,
"Do not mow, cut or weed whack the plant, as it will just send up new growth and put you at risk for being exposed to sap – the same kind of thing that would happen with poison ivy or sumac. Seek advice from professional plant control specialists about management options. If you must touch giant hogweed, wear disposable rubber gloves, a long-sleeved shirt and pants. If you get sap on your clothes or body, wash it off."
More information can be found on any of the links that I've included.
This morning, a new
alert was posted for Western New York which states,
"Schuyler County issued a new warning today because giant hogweed has been found in the Finger Lakes National Forest."
This is the area around Seneca Lake and Watkins Glen, New York.
Debra Myers (skyangel) in Environment
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