Toxic Weed Spreading Across Ontario
Posted July 13, 2010 2:18 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s a plant with an unpleasant name and the side effects associated with close contact with it are even more off-putting.
Giant hogweed has infiltrated parts of southern Ontario and it’s been spotted around the Don River and other parts of Toronto. Officials in eastern Ontario are now trying to contain the spread of the toxic plant, whose sap, when exposed to sunlight, can cause blindness, burns and severe dermatitis.
The Toronto Region and Conservation Authority (TRCA) says its staff will spray the ones they found this week when they’re in mid-flower, likely in about seven days.
The massive and toxic plant, often mistaken for cow parsnip, was introduced to North America from Europe as an ornamental, according to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture. It can grow up to five metres high and produces a rosette that can span up to a metre wide. It has a distinctive purple-speckled hollow stem.
“Hogweed is something you definitely want to stay away from,” said Frank Ferragine of Breakfast Television.
“It causes a lot of irritation to the skin. Basically it makes your skin more sensitive to light. You’ll get blistering, oozing. It can cause blindness. If you see it, you want to keep well away from it and have a professional take care of it.”
Giant hogweed, or Heracleum mantegazzianum, is a member of the carrot and parsley family and has been reported in British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, New Brunswick and Newfoundland.
If you spot it in your yard it’s best to call a professional to have it removed, but if you plan to root it up yourself make sure you’re covered from head to toe, including your eyes.
Click here for more information on giant hogweed and how to protect yourself, or visit the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority website.
Send pictures to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs
