Giant hogweed
Heracleum mantegazzianum
Summary 7
Heracleum mantegazzianum, commonly known as giant hogweed, cartwheel-flower, wild parsnip, wild rhubarb, giant cow parsnip, or giant cow parsley, is a plant in the family Apiaceae. It typically grows to heights of 2–5 metres (6 ft 7 in–16 ft 5 in), sometimes reaching 7 metres (23 ft). Except for size, it closely resembles Common Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium), Heracleum sosnowskyi or Garden Angelica (Angelica archangelica). It is phototoxic and considered to be a noxious weed in many jurisdictions. Giant Hogweed is native...
Description 8
DO NOT TOUCH THIS PLANT. Giant hogweed is a dangerous plant and is designated as a federal noxious weed due to its toxic sap that causes skin sensitivity to UV radiation and leads to blistering and severe burns. It is native to Europe and Asia and was introduced around 1917 for use as an ornamental plant. It is also used as a spice in middle Eastern cooking. Hogweed is a towering herbaceous biennial plant growing 15-20 ft. in height with interesting foliage and massive flower heads. The large stem is hollow, about 2 in. across and usually marked with purple blotches. The leaves are deeply lobed, sharply pointed, and up to 5 ft. across. Flowering occurs in late spring to early summer. The white flowers are arranged in large umbrella-shaped heads that can be up to 2½ ft. in diameter. Hogweed has been reported in scattered locations in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Pacific Northwest regions. It grows well in a variety of habitats but prefers moist, rich soils in disturbed areas such as riverbanks, ditches and railroad right-of-ways. It spreads by seed. Do not cultivate, plant, purchase, or transplant this plant. If found, notify your state Department of Agriculture of the exact location and request assistance with control.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Ian Robertson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianrobertson63/7399974824/
- (c) Jaroslav Koleček, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/66526.jpg
- (c) "<a href=""http://nt.ars-grin.gov/"">ARS Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory</a>. Belgium, Gemboux.", some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=hema17_001_ahp.tif
- 2008 Bill Moses, no known copyright restrictions (public domain), http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?seq_num=270181&one=T
- 2008 Bill Moses, no known copyright restrictions (public domain), http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?seq_num=270182&one=T
- 2008 Bill Moses, no known copyright restrictions (public domain), http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?seq_num=270183&one=T
- (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heracleum_mantegazzianum
- Adapted by taijioto from a work by (c) Unknown, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/22734060
More Info
- iNat taxon page
- Atlas of Living Australia
- Biodiversity Heritage Library
- BOLD Systems BIN search
- eFloras.org
- Flora of North America (beta)
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
- Go Botany
- HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
- IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
- Maryland Biodiversity Project
- NatureServe Explorer 2.0
- NBN Atlas
- New Zealand Plant Conservation Network
- OregonFlora.org
- SEINet Symbiota portals
- Tropicos
- USDA PLANTS database
- VASCAN by Canadensys
- World Flora Online
Range Map
iNat Map
| Plant type | Herbs |
|---|---|
| Leaf structure | Pinnately Compound |
| Leaf margin | Lobed |
| Leaf arrangement | Opposite |
| Management season | Mid Spring to Late Summer |
