HeracleumLanatum01

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Family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae), the Parsley and Carrots, 2850 species in 275 genera of global distribution but mostly north temperate regions. Includes the common herbs anise, carrot, celery, coriander, dill, fennel, parsley, and parsnip, as well as the highly toxic hemlocks.

Description: A native, perennial forb, 3'-10' tall. Leaves rough/hairy, palmately compound, large, 12"-18", divided into 3 segments, leaflets coarsely toothed; broad wing at the base of the leaf stalk. Stem erect, branched, rough/hairy, hollow, grooved, and leafed. Roots a stout taproot or a cluster of fibrous roots. Flowers white/cream, with a sweet fragrance. Five petals, not all the same size, up to 1/3" long; in broad, flat-topped cluster of clusters at the top of short stalks. Blooms mid-summer in the North Country. Fruit egg-shaped, 3/8"-1/2" long, 1/4"-3/8" wide; with 4 conspicuous vertical purple lines. Seed in tight pairs, often conspicuously ribbed, and sometimes winged, flattened on one side, rounded on the other, with distinct ridges. Stong, unusual odor.

Habitat: A variety of habitats including woodlands, forest openings, grasslands, and riparian areas such as wet meadows, stream terraces, alluvial benches, floodplains, and stream and lake margins; also disturbed areas and along roadways. A wetland species; it grows best in moist, shaded areas but can also be found in open woodlands and clearings. Grows best on moist to semiwet soils with good drainage. Best soil texture loam and sandy loam derived from limestone and shale, but occurs on clay, clay loam, and gravelly substrates as well.

Cow parsnip was used by almost every West coast aboriginal group as a green vegetable. The young stalks and leaf stems, before the flowers matured, were peeled and eaten raw, and sometimes boiled and used in stews and soups. Beware of the toxic outer skin... some tribes thought the cow parsnip to be poisonous because of the furanocoumarins contained in the skin of the stems, leaves and branches. The coastal peple called the plant "Indian celery" because the young, peeled stems are mild and sweet.

The blossoms were steeped in oil and rubbed on the body by native North Americans to keep off flies and mosquitoes.

The Cree gathered young cow-parsnip stalks and roasted them on hot coals, later eating the pith. Young roots were also cooked as a vegetable, like parsnips. Medicinally, pastes of dried, grated roots were applied to swollen legs to relieve swelling and were used on aching limbs and heads to relieve pain.

Cow parsnip is often confused with Cicuta maculata (water hemlock) and Sium suave (water parsnip). Its broad leaves and unpleasant odor, compared to the finely divided leaves and smaller umbels of water hemlock and water parsnip distinguish cow parsnip. Cow parsnip is also mistaken for Giant Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium), an introduced ornamental from England and Scotland. Giant hogweed is easily distinguished by its height, 3-5 m when flowering. Stems of giant hogweed have dark reddish-purple spots and coarse white hairs at the base of the purple leaf stalks