Cow Parsnip (Heracleum maximum) on Jun 8, 2015
Originally reported as Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)
Submitter does not have a specimen
Description of specimen
It looks like Giant Hogweed to me, based on photos I have looked at online. The plants look like giant Queen Ann's Lace with huge leaves. I do not have a photo to add.
Commentary
Expert Reviewer
Samuel Leininger
Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District
4-County Cooperative Weed Management Area
Columbia Gorge Cooperative Weed Management Area
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 all of the the patches that you reported.
After surveying the sites, I am pleased to say that all of the 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, 10:26 a.m.