In Richmond Virginia, a dangerous plant species was spotted by officials. Giant Hogweed can cause severe damage with just a touch. People who interact with this plant can receive third-degree burns or even permanent blindness when rubbed on the eyes. Clarke County reported the plant, bringing attention to the harmful plant in other states. Environmental officials confirmed sightings in Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.
Giant Hogweed stems are hollow, with a diameter of two to four inches. There are purple, and red raised spots on the stem, along with bristles. It grows up to fourteen feet tall and sprouts white florals on the ends. The plant is commonly mistaken for Cow Parsnip and Queen Anne’s Lace.
GIANT HOGWEED PUTS RESIDENTS IN UNNECESSARY DANGER.
An educator with the New York State Integrated Pest Management Cornell program, Joellen Lampman, stated:
“The [plant’s] sap is toxic and basically strips the body’s ability to control the UV radiations from sunlight….What’s really scary about this one is the impacts it could have on children. It … kind of looks like an umbrella, so you can envision children seeing that and breaking [the plant] off and carrying it around with them.’
If one does come into contact with the plant, they should wash the area with cold water and soap as soon as possible. The reaction can appear in fifteen minutes after touching. Because it’s a phototoxic reaction, it’s best to stay away from sunlight for forty-eight hours. Topical steroids reduce the severity if applied early, but one should visit a physician.
The plant that originated from Asia worries residents. The eradication process requires physical removal or the use of herbicides. The risk of sap spreading over the area increases when residents use machinery to cut. Therefore, officials warned residents not to use weed-whackers for removal.
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