Hogweed suspected in Manotick, No reports yet in North Dundas
Posted Jul 29, 2010 By Jill Hudson
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Tweet ThisEMC News - Just take a drive through North Dundas and you cannot help but see wild parsnip. While this nasty weed is problematic it is merely a dandelion in comparison to its cousin, giant hogweed.
Currently, there have been no official sightings of Hogweed in North Dundas, according to South Nation Conservation Authority and North Dundas Township road crews.
While there are no confirmed cases yet in North Dundas it has been reported that Manotick resident Wendy Eberwien, assistant to Coun. Glen Brooks, has received reports of hogweed in the area. Discussions are in the works with city staff to look into the matter.
According to Jordan Squire, the Invasive Species Monitoring Technician at South Nation Conservation, giant hogweed can reach up to 16 ft. tall but more often runs anywhere from five to ten ft. tall.
Its stalk and leaves set it apart from the plant which it is similar to, Queen Anne's Lace. Giant Hogweed has large leaves that are coarsely toothed. Its stalk is thick like celery, appears to be hollow and has purple splotches on it -closer to the roots it can be mainly purple.
There are "hairs" all down the stalk. Crowning the plant is an umbrella of white flowers -very similar to Angelica and Queen Anne's Lace.
The sap from the plant, however, can cause burns that can last for months and if you get it in your eyes it can cause temporary or permanent blindness. It can take from 24 to 48 hours for the blisters to appear.
"I hate to say this but hogweed will probably be in the area shortly," Mr. Squire said.
"It's a good thing that people are starting to raise awareness before it comes here so they can recognize them."
It is public knowledge that giant hogweed is in abundance in the Renfrew area. Mr. Squire said that reports have come in to South Nation Conservation Authority and North Dundas Township of possible sightings, but each investigation revealed the plan to be wild parsnip.
Giant hogweed spreads through its seeds.
Mr. Squire said each plant could dispel up to 100,000 very small seeds, which can get connected to tires of four wheelers, mountain bikes or your boots if you are hiking. To avoid spreading this noxious plant into this region, hose off equipment after you hit the trails and clean up your boots.
Wild parsnip can grow up to five feet tall. Its stem is thick and appears to be hollow, and flowers are yellow. Sap from this plant can cause photo dermatitis, which means exposure to the sun aggravates the burns.
Wild parsnip is very similar to hogweed because they are both from the parsley family, but it has a yellow flower on top. This plant also has hollow stocks but there is no hair on the stalk.
The only way you can get affected by the poisonous parsnip is breaking the stalk open and getting some of the plants sap on your skin. The sores react to sunlight and cause burns. Like poison ivy, it reacts more severely with some people than it does with others. If you get any of the sap from either plant on you, experts advise washing with soap and water right away, within the first five minutes.
If you cannot get to a sink on time, cover up so that the sun does not aggravate the burns.
Mr. Squire said that ridding ourselves of the invasive weeds could be tricky. Though pesticides are non-selective, in that they kill any plant that is sprayed with it, it may be what is needed to combat the weeds.
"Pesticides may be the only solution that we have actually to stop this threat of invasive species because simply removing them with your hands, it will work to a certain degree but these species are spread so easily that they are just going to keep coming back," he said."
According to Mr. Squire, Ontario has the highest level of invasive species of any province.
"We are at 400 now, in just Ontario alone," he explained. "Quebec is the second (highest effected) and (British Columbia) is the third."
He said invasive species have the second biggest impact on biodiversity. The first one is extinction through the destruction of habitat.
Arden Carruthers, road superintendant for North Dundas said that there have not been any sightings so far in the area.
Anyone who believes they may have hogweed on their property should contact the South Nations Conservation Authority at 1-877-984-2948 or North Dundas Township office at (613) 774-2105.
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