Good afternoon Ms. Doupe,

First let me thank you for reporting to the Oregon Invasive Species Hotline. It is great to see local residents taking the initiative to help control invasive weeds. So thank you for active participation. I went out and surveyed the patch you reported.

After surveying the site, I am pleased to say that they plants in question are not giant hogweed, but a closely related native plant called cow parsnip (Heracleum maximum). Cow parsnip is very similar and is easily confused with giant hogweed. So this is very good news.

New York State developed a webpage that highlights some of the key differences between the two plants (http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/72766.html). In our area, the key features between the two are height, leaf size and shape, and the raised red bumps with bristly hairs on the stems.

Once again thank you for the report. It is great to have your active participation in reporting invasive weeds. So keep them coming! have a great day.

Sam

______________________________________

Samuel Leininger
WeedWise Program Manager
Clackamas Soil & Water Conservation District
221 Molalla Ave. Suite 102
Oregon City, OR 97045
503-210-6006
sleininger@conservationdistrict.org
______________________________________

Samuel Leininger
June 11, 2015, 10:22 a.m.