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Title: We're being invaded!!
Source:
Various
URL Source: http://www.varioussources.com
Published: Aug 10, 2005
Author: 4um
Post Date: 2005-08-10 22:22:23 by Zipporah
Keywords: invaded!!, Were, being
Views: 241
Comments: 34
NAW this isnt an illegal immigration thread. But it sort of is. We're being invaded by an introduced plant commonly called the Giant Hogweed. The above photos are of the Giant Hogweed which is spreading across the country and CAPPS brought this to my attention and I thought I would share the info as many on 4 are gardeners and even if you aren't this invasion plant can find its way into your yard or patio garden. Giant Hogweed is a member of the carrot or parsley family and its most impressive characteristic is its massive size. It looks like Queen's Anne Lace on STEROIDS. It's commonly seen on roadways and near streams but can show up in your garden. DON'T try to eradicate it yourself. VERY toxic! Giant hogweed is a public health hazard... The toxic sap, clear and watery, contains a substance that causes painful blisters. The blisters emerge when skin coated with the sap is exposed to sun. The combination of sap and sun produces painful burning blisters that may develop into purplish, blackened scars. Keep children away from this plant and use extreme caution when handling it. Plants may be dug-out, but care should be taken to remove much of the root stalk. This can be difficult and unpleasant. Mowing serves only to stimulate budding on the perennating rootstalk, but might be successful if done consistently and persistently enough to starve the rootstalk.
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 25.
#4. To: Zipporah (#0)
Where's this weed come from originally?
It's native to the Caucasus region of Asia near the Caspian Sea. It was introduced as a cultivated plant introduced in Europe and the US. The Victorians who seemed to like the weird and bizarre used it as an ornamental and became a pest but it's spreading quickly across the US.
Thanks. Do you know anything about the toxicity of this weed when it's still relatively small? The pictures you've posted all show HUGE plants.
As far as I know, they are as toxic small as they are young. They all produce sap. I can look into it further if you want.
Well if they ARE that toxic when they're small, BTW, are there specific regions of the country that are more infested than others?
Well CAPPS said she saw it in Ohio but here's a map not sure how recent it is:
Thanks for the map!
#26. To: Willie Green (#25)
Right! And when its large people are taken by its size the large flowers and unwittingly cut the flowers etc. And its said if hogweed is growing in your area you are to contact your local extention agency and to call a professional to remove it. And not to use a weed eater or a mower to cut it as it will cause it to spread even more. Now hogweed as spread beyond that map as it's in southern Ohio. You could probably contact your extention agency to see if it's a risk in your area.
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#5. To: Willie Green (#4)
#16. To: Zipporah (#5)
But when I yank weeds out of my garden/flower beds/lawn etc., they don't look anything like that.
(Sometimes I wear gloves, but often I do it bare-handed.
I don't want to go grabbing anything that's gonna cause my skin to blister and rot away.)
#17. To: Willie Green (#16)
#22. To: CAPPSMADNESS (#17)
As far as I know, they are as toxic small as they are young. They all produce sap. I can look into it further if you want.
I think it would be vital for every home gardener to know what to look for.
Geez, I'm not exactly fanatic about keeping my yard in pristine condition.
But I don't let it get shabby either.
It seems like every time I go outside I yank 3~4 weeds out of the flower beds before they sprout too big.
It sure would be nice to know what NOT to grab bare-handed!!!
I doubt that I would have had to worry about it last year when I was living in Las Vegas.
But now that I've moved to Houston, I would guess we might be at greater risk for that kind of weed.
(But then again, maybe it prefers the northern climates.)
#23. To: Willie Green (#22)
#25. To: Zipporah (#23)
I'm relieved that I apparently don't have to worry about it down here in Houston.
But just the same, I think those who live in the infested regions should be concerned with identifying the weed when it's still small (maybe 4~8"? 10"?)
That's probably when they're most likely to unwittingly just grab it bare-handed like any other weed.
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