Giant Hogweed facts
While investigating facts about Giant Hogweed Burns and Giant Hogweed Uk, I found out little known, but curios details like:
A plant called giant hogweed. Its sap is extremely phototoxic. If you touch the sap and are then exposed to UV rays it will produce severe caustic burns. These chemicals are also known to bond with your DNA and kill it.
how to get rid of giant hogweed?
First signs of dermatitis appear 1 to 3 days after contact with sap. Usually 48 hours later, large, dark blisters arise. They turn into brown scars after couple of days. Scars remain on the skin from couple of months to 6 years. Skin remains sensitive to the sun for years after contact with giant hogweed.
What does giant hogweed look like?
In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across answering what looks like giant hogweed. Here are 22 of the best facts about Giant Hogweed Plant and Giant Hogweed Leaves I managed to collect.
what's giant hogweed?
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Giant hogweed produces 100 000 winged, oval seeds. Animals, rain and wind facilitate seed dispersal. Seed is able to germinate even after 10 years of dormancy.
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Before people became aware of the hazardous effect of this plant, they were planting it as food for bees.
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Giant hogweed is a towering, invasive plant with toxic sap that burns the skin and eyes upon contact.
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Sap extracted from the leaves, stem, root, flowers and seed contains toxic chemicals known as furanocoumarins. These substances induce strong reaction on the human skin known as phytophotodermatitis (light-induced skin irritation). Plant's sap destroys natural defensive mechanisms which protect skin from the negative effects of the sun (more precisely of the UV rays). As a result, large burns and blisters appear on the skin.
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Giant hogweed is perennial plant that can survive from 5 to 7 years in the wild.
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Dried seed of giant hogweed is used as spice in Iranian cuisine.
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Giant hogweed can grow to the height of 15 to 20 feet.
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Giant hogweed blooms once in a lifetime. Flowers can be seen from spring to midsummer.
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Skin needs to be rinsed with water immediately after contact with giant hogweed to prevent seriousness of the reaction. Also, affected person needs to avoid sun exposure.
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Plant is scientifically known as "Heracleum" due to large dimensions and strength. Same characteristics were used to describe Greek's hero Hercules.
Why is giant hogweed dangerous?
You can easily fact check why is the giant hogweed a invasive species by examining the linked well-known sources.
Sap of giant hogweed induces temporary or permanent blindness when it comes in contact with eyes.
Giant hogweed has thick green stem covered with purple blotches and white hairs.
Giant hogweed has thick green leaves that are lobed and toothed on the edges. They can reach 5 feet in diameter. Leaf stalks are covered with white hairs.
Learned that the band Genesis wrote a song about Giant Hogweed. It contains the line, “They are invincible / They seem immune to all our herbicidal battering."
Giant hogweed produces white flowers arranged in terminal inflorescence known as umbel. Flower head can reach 2.5 feet in diameter.
When does giant hogweed flower?
The Giant Hogweed, a plant native to Asia, but taken to Europe as an ornamental plant, has sap which is phototoxic, and exposure to it and sunlight can cause blisters, scars, and blindness. It has been increasingly spotted in North America, as well.
How to identify giant hogweed?
Rock band Genesis, wrote a song "The Return of the Giant Hogweed" in 1971. Song describes negative influence of the plant and inability of people to eradicate it.
Sap from the giant hogweed plant and sunlight cause 3rd degree burns.
The sap of the Giant Hogweed plant can cause serious burns to skin and may result in blistering and scarring.
If You See This Giant Hogweed Plant, Do Not Touch It - Saving Advice
