What is giant hogweed and what does the poisonous plant look like?

AN invasive species dubbed by experts as 'Britain's most dangerous plant' can wreak havoc in the garden – and on your health.

Giant hogweed may look impressive, but any contact with the sap of this plant can cause serious injury. especially for your skin.

1

What is giant hogweed?

Giant hogweed, or Heracleum mantegazzianum, is infamous among botanists for its poisonous properties.

The plant – which looks a lot like a larger version of cow parsley, often seen on roadsides and in parks and woodlands – has earned its dangerous reputation because it doesn't require you to break off a stem or rub its sap into your skin . painful side effects prevail.

Simply brushing against the plant is enough to cause burns, lesions and blisters.

Depending on the severity of the injury, pigment spots and long-lasting scars may occur.

Mike Duddy, of the Mersey Basin Rivers Trust, labeled giant hogweed as “Britain's most dangerous plant”.

He said: “Coordinated action is the only way to get rid of it. In the 1990s there was very little of it. The proliferation has gotten worse every year.”

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) also describes the plant as posing a “serious risk to people who are unaware of the potential harm”.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) also describes the plant as posing a “serious risk to people who are unaware of the potential harm”.

What does Giant Hogweed look like?

When the giant hogweed is fully grown, it is given the appropriate name.

The plant can grow up to 7.5 meters high, with long green stems, purple spots and enormous branches with small white flowers and large green leaves.

The flower heads of the plant bloom in June and July and can reach a diameter of up to 60 cm.

Giant hogweed can be mistaken for other plants such as cow parsnip, cow parsnip, Queen Anne's Lace or elderberry because the flowers look similar.

Their size when fully grown is very helpful in identifying the offending crop.

Why does giant hogweed cause rashes, burns and blisters?

The stems of giant hogweed have fine needle-like hairs that can cause extreme irritation.

While the sap in giant hogweed contains a chemical called furanocoumarins.

When this poison comes into contact with the skin, it binds with DNA in the skin cells, causing them to die.

The sap reacts with the melanin in your skin and removes the protection the patch provides against UV light, causing photosensitivity (where the affected area becomes very sensitive to sunlight), resulting in nasty burns, lesions and blisters.

These burns can last for several months and even once they are gone, the skin can remain scarred and sensitive to sunlight for years.

If the hairs of the giant hogweed or its sap come into contact with your eyes, they can even cause temporary or even permanent blindness in severe cases.

Children are believed to be particularly vulnerable to the effects of the factory, and there are reports of several people being hospitalized with injuries in recent years.

How do I treat burns caused by giant hogweed?

The NHS website advises that if you come into contact with giant hogweed and you suffer burns, you should wash the affected area with soap and water and then cover it so that it is not in natural or artificial light.

If blisters appear, don't let them burst! If the blisters are large, seek medical attention.

If you get juice in your eye, rinse the eye with plenty of water and seek medical attention.

If you start to feel unwell after contact with giant hogweed, contact your doctor.

Make sure you wash the clothes you were wearing when you came into contact with the plant thoroughly and quickly.

And if you are concerned that a child has come into contact with or ingested giant hogweed, seek medical attention immediately.

Where does giant hogweed grow in Britain?

Giant hogweed was first introduced to Britain in 1817 when Russia's Gorenky Botanic Gardens supplied seeds to Kew Gardens.

It was used in ornamental gardens, but soon disappeared in the wild.

Chances are you will encounter it while walking along rivers, streams or near a freshwater source.

The highly invasive plant can also be found on vacant lots.

How do I get rid of giant hogweed?

Giant hogweed is vulnerable to herbicides such as glyphosate and triclopyr.

Applying these herbicides is effective, cost-efficient and can be used to control a single plant or an entire range of plants.

The RHS website states: “When controlling giant hogweed, always wear gloves, cover your arms and legs and preferably wear a face mask when working on it or near it.

“Cut plant debris, contaminated clothing and tools are also potentially dangerous.

“Immediately wash any skin that comes into contact with the plant.

“Ensure contractors working on your land are aware of the risks and are competent in dealing with these weeds.”

It adds: “Protect yourself from any skin contact with the sap, especially your face, when cutting stems, and implement control measures in cloudy weather and avoid sunny periods.

“Larger areas are probably best left to the professionals, who should wear full protective clothing, especially if using a grass trimmer.

“Strimmers send sap and fragments flying, so facial protection is essential.”

If you see giant hogweed in your garden or surroundings, you can report this to your municipality via your municipality's website.