Discussion: Hogweed
in: Orienteering; General
Jun 10, 2013 10:41 PM
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This news clip about Hogweed was sent out to my search & rescue group today:
http://www.clickondetroit.com/Michiganders-warned-...
Wondering what the O community thinks of this plant. Or any encounters with this one before?
http://www.clickondetroit.com/Michiganders-warned-...
Wondering what the O community thinks of this plant. Or any encounters with this one before?
Jun 10, 2013 11:00 PM
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We've had several stands of it discovered in the greater Rochester (NY) area, including some plants in a wetland that's an O-meet location. But that particular stand had been taped off and then removed. It's fairly rare, but it does occur.
Public education is really the best method for eradicating this problem plant. If people identify it and notify authorities, then it can be removed fairly efficiently.
From what I understand about the plant, the news story was a bit misleading - the really severe burns and blindness are caused by the sap that's found in the phloem of the plant, and you would most often come into contact with it if you broke off the leaf or snapped the stem, rather than just brushing against it. Still not a good idea to handle the plant, though! Most people are injured when trying to remove the plant from their property.
Public education is really the best method for eradicating this problem plant. If people identify it and notify authorities, then it can be removed fairly efficiently.
From what I understand about the plant, the news story was a bit misleading - the really severe burns and blindness are caused by the sap that's found in the phloem of the plant, and you would most often come into contact with it if you broke off the leaf or snapped the stem, rather than just brushing against it. Still not a good idea to handle the plant, though! Most people are injured when trying to remove the plant from their property.
This discussion thread is closed.