Submitter has sample
EDRR Status: Local expert notified

Description of specimen

I will provide photographs and can provide actual physical specimens if necessary. I am an ecologist and thus well versed in plant identification so my ID of the species is correct. I also presented specimens to plant ecologists (I am an avian ecologist) at Portland Parks and Recreation to be certain of the ID and they concur that the plant in question is indeed Poison Hemlock. We have lived at this home for four years and have complained to our HOA and management company many times to have them control the plants, but nothing has been done. It is a serious public health issue. Twice now I have stopped young children from collecting the plants to take home to their mothers to cook thinking they were wild parsnip. Our HOA and management company have not done anything to control the expanding problem other than to mow the area 1-2 times per year (yes - per year). There are no notices about the danger of these plants whatsoever. They do not understand the dangers despite our ongoing complaints. Not only are we concerned about the children and pets in our neighborhood - we are also concerned with the fact that we often cannot sit in our own back yard due to the noxious smell and that we are now pulling Poison Hemlock up from our own backyard as it spreads throughout the neighborhood.

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Commentary

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