If you must handle it, always wear protective clothing and gloves to ensure your skin does not make direct contact with the plant and its sap. Severe red rashes, blistering, boils, and red to dark purple skin discolourations appear and can last for several months, and may persist for at least five years, reactivated by exposure to. It’s best to avoid handling this plant, the University of Illinois Extension advises. Other Weedy Biennials Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is a non-native invasive capable of causing severe dermatitis. It produces small, white clusters of flowers that typically bloom between May and July.Ĭontact with sap from giant hogweed in the presence of sunlight can cause severe skin and eye irritation, leading to blistering rashes, permanent scars and blindness. Cow parsnip is not as toxic as the wild parsnip, but it can also cause rashes upon contact with the plant sap. The stems have vertical ridges, and they often have brownish or purplish spots on them. Contact with cow parsnip may cause skin irritation, blistering. It has thick, hollow stems that can be 2 inches to 4 inches thick. It is listed as endangered in Kentucky and a species of special concern in Tennessee. Giant hogweed is, indeed, giant, regularly reaching heights of 10 feet to 15 feet tall and 5 feet wide, according to the U.S. So far, it has only been identified in a few Illinois counties, but its range continues to expand. If the plant touches your skin, immediately wash the area with soap and water and protect from sunlight for 48 hours. Giant hogweed is native to Asia and an invasive species here in the United States, likely introduced because of its use as a spice. Cow parsnip is not considered to be as toxic as giant hogweed, but like its smaller relative, wild parsnip, it can still cause nasty burns that take weeks or months to heal and can leave scars. This plant is among the nastiest of all, but luckily it remains relatively rare in Illinois, according to the University of Illinois Extension. In addition, the plant looks similar to several others that can cause more serious reactions, so it’s best not to touch it unless you can be sure of what it is. Thankfully the symptoms usually do not persist longer than 24 hours. Ingesting parts of the plant can be toxic for some people and animals, however. If touched, these needle-like hairs inject the stinging acid into the skin, triggering a burning, tingling sensation and an itchy rash. It typically grows 2 feet to 3 feet tall, and its stems are lightly fuzzy with small grooves.Ĭoming into contact with Queen Anne’s lace will not cause a problem for many people, but those with sensitive skin may develop irritation or blistering, according to the U.S. Queen Anne’s lace, which is also known as wild carrot, has flat clusters of tiny, white flowers that create a lacy appearance, and there is usually one purplish or reddish flower at the center of each flower cluster, IDNR reports. Instead, it’s native to Europe, but was introduced to the United States by early settlers and has spread widely, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Queen Anne’s lace is common across Illinois, although it is not a native plant.
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