Giant Hogweed Causes Phytophotodermatitis in Vermont

Invasive poisonous plant poses serious health risks to people in Vermont and New York. This Giant Hogweed or Heracleum mantegazzianum plant video shows images from Victory Vermont with narration describing why this poisonous plant poses serious health risks to people. Imagine having to cover your skin for 3 years or longer after touching a plant while hiking. That is phytophotodermatitis! Now imagine going blind from touching this poisonous plants sap to your eye's!

UPDATE: We have since observed that Giant Hogweed is growing prolificly along RTE 16 just before the Shadow Lake Road in Glover Vermont. Also Wild Parsnip a much smaller cousin is growing like crazy along RTE 91 as you approach the Newport exits.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• giant
• hogweed
• Heracleum
• mantegazzianum
• invasive
• plants
• poisonous
• phytophotodermatitis
• NY
• VT
• Vermont
• new
• york
• blindness
• UV
• burns
• blisters
• medical
• symptoms
• effects
• outdoors
• nature
• gardening
• wildlife
• wilderness
• New York
• Green
• Garden

[grimywise]

looks alot like Queen Anne's Lace, or Daucus carota.. which is everywhere up here in canada i was spooked for a min. apparently we do have Hogweed up here but its not a problem... yet.

[GloVermont2]

@grimywise It has a smaller cousin (wild or cow parsnip) too with yellow flowers. There's some good info published in Toronto at "gavan.ca/nature/giant-hogweed­-vs-cow-parsnip-vs-water-hemlo­ck-vs-wild-carrot/" And some real good images dec.ny.gov/animals/72766.html to help identify the plants that can inflict phytophotodermatitis.

All my best --- Joe

[whisperwarfare]

got burnt by this plant a week ago while out fishing and it is not nice in so much pain

[GloVermont2]

You have my sincere sympathy W W. You have to keep the affected areas of skin covered from the sun for about 3-5 years to avoid or at least minimize the UV burns from sun exposure.

Take care

[buffalocrotch]

where is this plant originally from?

[GloVermont2]

The Giant Hogweed originated in Russia. If you check out my playlist on this subject you can confirm this and also see some victims of the plant. Nasty burns.

Thanks for your interest. - Joe

[ManTheBush]

I tried to make a blowgun out of a large Hogweed, because the stem is hollow.

It was very bad, that was on the north shore of lake Ontario.

[DistractionCascade]

I saw these in a state park on the east shore of Lake Ontario, New York.

[createrainbowz]

well thank you didnt know it could burn...friends and I have struggled to rid gardens of this weed, very deep tap roots....but no ill effects experienced.

[chernobylworker]

I hate Hogweed!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)

[BrittanyNicole1990]

omg!!! never heard of this plant before till now

thank you for the info!

[SylvermanMusic]

@JeffFerguson yes buddy band-- genesis song-- the return of the giant hogweed lolol

[willmcmahon14]

I have at least 60 of these plant in my back yard :|

[bmxismylife123]

god damn russia it's full of them here in latvia too