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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: 845
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 # 34.
#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?
YIKES! A much newer map. So Willie isnt safe in Texas.
??? There's something going on besides the map just being newer. How'd THAT happen??? Are you sure the maps are for the same weed? Or maybe one of 'em is for some other weed?
here's the link for the main page for noxious plants from the government database http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi?earl=noxious.cgi And the page for hogweed
Thanks for the links. The second map is for "plain" hogweed (Croton capitatus aka hogwort, woolly croton, doveweed)
Ah that clears it up then. So far you are safe. Anyone who sees this weed needs to alert their local extention agency and have it eradicated safely by a professional.
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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.)
#27. To: Willie Green (#22)
#29. To: CAPPSMADNESS (#27)
#30. To: Zipporah, CAPPSMADNESS (#29)
YIKES! A much newer map. So Willie isnt safe in Texas.
Yeah, it looks like the weed spread elsewhere.
But it also disappeared from many of the states where it was on the first map.
#31. To: Willie Green (#30)
#33. To: Zipporah (#31)
Mystery solved!
The first map is the correct one.
It is for giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum aka giant cow parsnip)
It is both invasive and noxious.
It is invasive, but not noxious.
So it looks like I'm "safe" here in Texas.
#34. To: Willie Green (#33)
he second map is for "plain" hogweed (Croton capitatus aka hogwort, woolly croton, doveweed) It is invasive, but not noxious. So it looks like I'm "safe" here in Texas.
Replies to Comment # 34.