Cow Parsnip - Heracleum maximum

Cow parsnip is native to North America. It is a HUGE plant that grows to be over 2 meters (7 ft) tall. The flower umbels are 20 cm across and the leaves are up to 40 cm across! It is often confused with Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), but cow parsnip is not as toxic. Cow Parsnip sap contains a phototoxin that reacts with ultraviolet light to cause skin irritation ranging from a mild rash to severe blistering. It's kind of like an anti-sunscreen.

comments (4)

Flown Kimmerling

Lion

Great shot! We call it "Hogweed" down South! Posted 7 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Thank you :). Giant Hogweed is very similar, but has purple blotches on the stem and the leaves aren't fuzzy...Plus, Giant Hogweed grows to 20 feet tall! Is it Giant Hogweed that you have, or do you just refer to Heracleum maximum as "hogweed"? Both are not to be messed with :O Posted 7 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    I wish I could have backed up far enough to get a shot of the entire plant! Posted 7 years ago
  2. 1. Flown Kimmerling
      
      Lion
      
      I'm thinking of Giant Hogweed! My mistake! Posted 7 years ago

The Cow Parsnip

''Heracleum maximum'', cow parsnip is the only member of the genus ''Heracleum'' native to North America. Its classification has caused some difficulty, with recent authoritative sources referring to it variously as ''Heracleum maximum'' or ''Heracleum lanatum '', as ''H. linatum'', or as either a subspecies, ''H. sphondylium'' subsp. ''montanum'', or a variety, ''H. sphondylium'' var. ''linatum'', of the common hogweed . The classification given here follows ITIS.

Info 6 0

Similar species: Ginseng And Carrots

Species identified by Christine Young