Hogweed: description and how it looks, what is dangerous, the benefits of the plant and how to fight

Hogweed is a dangerous poisonous plant that is often found in suburban areas. For people, it poses a real threat and provokes severe burns. Because gardeners are trying to bring this culture. However, it is important to take into account the beneficial properties of the plant, which has a therapeutic effect on the body. That is why it is so important to study the description of hogweed and how it looks, as well as how dangerous it is.

Description of the plant

This plant poses a certain he alth risk. Therefore, every summer resident should familiarize himself with its visual signs and varieties. At the same time, cow parsnip also has a number of useful properties. In addition, it has a very attractive appearance.

Appearance

Hogweed is a two- or three-year-old plant. It is characterized by a fairly powerful appearance. The height of the bush can reach 6 meters. Another feature of the culture is a strong root that does not contain branches. In appearance, it resembles a carrot and has a white color with a slight yellow tint. The length of the hogweed root can reach 1 meter.

The plant has a thick stem with a ribbed surface. Inside it is hollow and covered with stiff hairs. The stem branches upwards. The leaves are divided and contain segments of different shapes.

Basic leaves reach 0.8-1 meters in length and 40-80 centimeters in width. The petiole is long and has a groove. There are several leaves on the bush, which form a rosette near the root. The upper ones are sessile and fit tightly to the stem.

Hogweed is characterized by small flowers that can be pink, yellow-green or white.They form an umbrella with a diameter of 50-60 centimeters. Up to 80 flowers can appear on one bush. They bring a lot of nectar, which attracts bees. The flowering period falls on September-October.

After that, fruits appear on the bushes, which are presented in the form of a large brown flat-shaped achene. Its size is 7-8 millimeters. Seed ripening occurs from late June to October. They remain viable for 2-3 years.

Views

In total, there are more than 70 varieties of hogweed. They are divided into a number of categories - weedy, poisonous, decorative. The most famous varieties include the following:

1. Sosnovsky - this culture has red streaks on the cuttings and trunk.
2. Mantegations - is the largest variety. It reaches 6 meters in height. The length of the leaves is 3 meters.
3. Steven - used as a flavoring. This culture is listed in the Red Book of the Krasnodar Territory.
4. Ordinary - is a perennial culture that reaches a height of 2-2.5 meters. At the same time, the lobed leaves have 3-5 lobes and have a rich green tint.
5. Siberian - reaches a height of 2 meters. It has yellow-green flowers. This plant is used for medicinal purposes.
6. Shaggy - there are pronounced furrows on its shoots. Plant height reaches 1.5 meters. At the same time, flower umbrellas have a diameter of up to 20 centimeters.
7. Dissected - used in decorative floriculture. Plant height reaches 2 meters.

Less common varieties include hard, sweet, Middle Asian. There are also large-flowered, rough-edged and other varieties.

Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionSosnovsky's hogweed is considered the most dangerous. The fight against it is regulated by law. This is due to the uncontrolled spread of the plant and the threat to human he alth.

Distribution in Russia

The most famous and widespread is Heracleum Sosnovskyi Manden. Currently, it is considered a dangerous plant, which can be quite difficult to deal with. In the forties of the last century, a weed that had a limited distribution area began to be grown in central Russia for use as livestock feed. This crop brought a huge amount of greenery - up to 2500 centners per 1 hectare.

But later people noticed that cow's milk began to taste bitter. In addition, it was not possible to ferment it, since hogweed has antiseptic properties. Another negative effect of such feed was the appearance of problems with reproduction. The fact is that the culture has estrogenic activity, which often led to miscarriages in cows.

As a result, Sosnowski's hogweed was no longer planted and grown. However, the process of its dissemination has already begun. Every year, weed grass began to develop more and more new territories and bring people and animals a lot of trouble.

Habitat

In most cases, hogweed is found in central Russia, as it was grown as livestock feed. It can be seen somewhat less frequently in Siberia, Altai, the Caucasus and the Urals.

Unpleasant plant properties

The biggest danger of the plant lies in the poisonous juice. This substance provokes the appearance of painful burns. Most often, hogweed poison harms children who play in its thickets.

Also, the plant exudes a special smell that causes many other problems. The flavor of the culture spreads for about a kilometer. Therefore, it is not enough to remove poisonous plants - more serious measures are required.Otherwise, allergy sufferers will have to take antihistamines for a long time.

Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionIt is important to consider that hogweed is a fairly tenacious weed that is able to displace all other crops from its habitat. This has a negative impact on flora and fauna, as the amount of animal feed is reduced.

At the same time, hogweed burns pose the greatest threat. Quite often they do not appear immediately, but after a certain period of time. Such damage does not heal for a long time and may even reappear if the sun's rays hit the damaged areas of the skin. Also, substances that are secreted by the leaves of the plant can lead to damage to the mucous membranes.

The larger the burn, the higher the risk of death. Even after the complete elimination of the damage, it will not be possible to forget about it. With the accumulation of an excess amount of poison in the body, there is a risk of developing a dermatological disease - vitiligo.

How to treat hogweed burns

It will not be possible to eliminate burns of hogweed on your own. After providing first aid, you need to see a doctor. However, you need to do the following first:

1. Blot the area of the skin that got the juice with a soft cloth. However, it must not be rubbed or smeared.
2. Put a clean gauze bandage over the damaged area.
3. Put on a shirt or pants that cover the affected area.

Follow-up therapy is done in a closed room that does not have access to daylight. In this case, you need to do the following:

1. Wash the affected area with soap and soda solution.
2. Wipe the affected area with vodka or alcohol.
3. Apply Panthenol or another similar preparation to the burn site.

Antihistamines should be used for the next 5 days. For this, it is permissible to use Tavegil or Suprastin. With severe pain syndrome, the doctor may prescribe analgesics - for example, "Nimesil" .

It is strictly forbidden to use the following to treat burns:

1. Folk remedies - these include medicinal plant juices, dog saliva, milk.
2. Locking earth - other unhygienic substances are also banned.

Plant benefits

Young shoots of culture include a large number of useful substances. These include iron, manganese, zinc, potassium. Therefore, on the basis of hogweed, ointments can be made that differ in healing and anti-inflammatory characteristics. In ancient times, the plant was used by healers to treat ulcers and inflammations.

The healing properties of hogweed allow it to be used in various fields.Almost all existing varieties of culture can be used in medicine. Most often, extracts from the plant are used. However, it is quite acceptable to use other fragments of the culture - dried leaves, roots, seeds. Plant-based medicines can be used to successfully treat dermatological pathologies, wounds, burns, rheumatism.

Traditional medicine also offers options for using hogweed, but these recipes should be used with great care. Dried culture fragments retain their benefits for 2 years.

Some varieties of hogweed can be used in cooking. To do this, in early spring it is required to collect young leaves and shoots. This is done before flowering. Before using the culture, be sure to make sure that the plant is completely safe and can be eaten. Otherwise, there is a risk of severe poisoning. Edible varieties of hogweed can be used to make salads, soups, pickles, and marinades.

Culture can also be used in other industries:

1. Beekeepers use the plant to collect honey. From 1 hectare of land sown with cow parsnip, you can get about 300 kilograms of useful nectar. However, this method is used very rarely, because it takes a lot of strength from the bees.
2. The hollow stems are used to make musical instruments.
3. Hogweed is used to make cardboard. This method is considered environmentally friendly and cost effective.
4. An anti-freeze liquid for car windows is made from cow parsnip extract. It is highly efficient and completely environmentally friendly.
5. Dry plants are being tested for the possibility of making all kinds of solutions that can be used to treat harmful microorganisms.

How to deal with hogweed

To get rid of a poisonous plant in the area, you can use different methods.It is worth starting to fight with culture at the initial stage of its development. Young bushes are considered less dangerous than during the flowering period. Regardless of the method chosen, it is important to adhere to protective measures. Otherwise, there is a high probability of getting he alth problems.

So, the most effective ways to destroy hogweed include the following:

1. Burning the plant. This method should be used with extreme caution. Plants need to be doused with a combustible mixture and set on fire. The method should not be used in dry weather, as there is a risk of fire. The situation may be aggravated due to the fact that essential oils are present in the fruits of the plant.
2. Cropping flowers. This method is suitable for dealing with hogweed in a small area. This is required to be done during budding. This method is considered very dangerous and costly.
3. Digging up the roots. You can destroy weeds in the area by plowing.The first procedure is carried out in early spring. In this case, the roots must be cut with flat cutters and the growth point removed. With the re-growth of the bush, the procedure is repeated. This must be done before the formation of rosette leaves. Plowing should be carried out systematically for 2-5 years.
4. Covering with an opaque film. For this, it is worth using black material with a minimum thickness of 100 micrometers. First, the site should be cleared of branches and stones. After the appearance of the first sprouts, it is required to spread the material and firmly press its edges. At first, weeds grow under the film, and then die. Shelter must be left for a year. This will help get rid of mature plants and young shoots.
5. Using herbicides. Glyphosate-based preparations can be used to combat hogweed. It is best to apply them before flowering. In this case, the rate of funds indicated in the instructions must be increased by 2-3 times. However, this concentration does not always give the desired result. The most effective method is injection into the stems.However, this method is considered very time consuming.

You can also fight with hogweed using folk methods. These include the following:

• injection into the stem of gasoline or solvent injection;
• processing the root system with boiling water;
• pouring vinegar essence into the hollow stem of a cut plant;
• grazing goats in fields with hogweed;
• growing spruces and pines on the site.

Precautions

When fighting hogweed, you must definitely follow safety measures. To prevent negative consequences, you must follow these recommendations:

• wear completely closed clothes;
• use rubber gloves;
• protect your eyes with goggles;
• use a respirator.

Cowweed is a rather dangerous plant that causes severe burns on the body. That is why it is so important to start the fight against this culture in a timely manner. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that it also has a number of useful properties.

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