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Giant Hogweed Spreading Across Canada

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Phototoxic plant verified in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Ontario, and BC - beware when hiking or camping.

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Giant Hogweed has been turning up right across Canada this summer.  Native to Central Asia, the sap from this weed is phototoxic, meaning that when it is exposed to intense light (particularly, sunlight), it can burn and even cause blindness.  Just touching the weed can result in scarring if you are out in the sun, or come in contact with sunlight before thoroughly washing it off.  

As a result, forestry officials are on the look out for stands of this plant and are actively destroying it.  Growing up to six metres tall, this strange member of the carrot family certainly lives up to its name.

From the Wikipedia entry:

It is further distinguished by a stout, dark reddish-purple stem and spotted leaf stalks that are hollow and produce sturdy bristles. Stems vary from 3–8 cm in diameter, occasionally up to 10 cm. The stem shows a purplish-red pigmentation with raised nodules. Each purple spot on the stem surrounds a hair, and there are large, coarse white hairs at the base of the leaf stalk. The plant has deeply incised compound leaves which grow up to 1-1.7 m in width. 

Giant Hogweed is a perennial with tuberous rootstalks that form perennating buds each year. It flowers from late spring to mid summer, with numerous white flowers clustered in an umbrella-shaped head that is up to 80 cm (2.5 ft) in diameter across its flat top. The plant produces 1,500 to 100,000 flattened, 1 cm long, oval dry seeds that have a broadly rounded base and broad marginal ridges. Shoots die down in the autumn. Tall stems mark its locations during winter.

Effects of contact with the sap can manifest in 24-48 hours and can include scarring, temporary blindness, and even permanent blindness.  Do not confuse it with Queen Anne's Lace (another member of the carrot family).

Be aware of this plant if you are planning hiking or camping adventures this summer. (You can view a large image of this plant here: Giant Hogweed at Wikimedia)

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