Hogweed

[bczoom]

Has anyone found any?

If you live in the northern states, you may want to check out what it looks like.

It's a federally listed noxious plant and is really nasty if you come in contact with it.

The sap causes phyto-dermatitis. Skin contact with sap followed by exposure to sunlight can produce painful, burning blisters that may develop into purplish or blackened scars. These blisters and scars can last for years.

It's also pretty darn hard to kill.

I don't know if it's made it to the southern states but it has been found in several northern states. I saw that it has been spreading a bit in Michigan and has made its way into Indiana. NW PA (around Erie) and Washington state have a lot of it as well.

 

[johnday]

Brian; Never heard of this before. Can you give a description or where to get one? Doesn't sound like too nice a plant. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[DocHeb]

Some reading at Yenra and The Detroit Free Press

 

[bczoom]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Brian; Never heard of this before. Can you give a description or where to get one? Doesn't sound like too nice a plant. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif )</font>

John,

Start with DocHeb's links.

In the Detroit Free Press article it said "In Michigan, authorities have found it in Jackson, Branch and Ingham counties, and in the western Upper Peninsula's Gogebic County. Officials also are investigating a report of it in Van Buren County."

Looking at this map, it seems to be a bit more widespread in MI. Michigan Hogweed by county

This link gives more info on Hogweed and a map of where it's found in PA. PA Dept of Agriculture - Hogweed

I've heard it's more widespread in PA than indicated on the map. There's a big patch down the road that isn't on this map.

 

[johnday]

Doc and Brian; Thanks for the links, very interesting. It doesn't appear to be too hard to identify once it gets a little growth. Do either of you know what's being done to erradicate it?

 

[bczoom]

I've "heard" they use a special kind of killer and come out and spray it (the plant and area) for several years (like upwards of 10).