Giant hogweed is notoriously difficult to get rid of. Image Credit: CC BY 3.0 Frank Schwichtenberg
Scientists have revealed that giant hogweed has spread to Virginia and can now be found in at least eight US states.
Native to Central Asia, this towering plant, which can grow up to three meters tall, is considered an invasive species in the United States, Canada and Europe.
Originally introduced in to Britain as an ornamental plant in the 19th century, giant hogweed is particularly toxic and its sap can cause severe burns, blistering and even blindness.
Efforts to control its spread have proven futile and now, despite concerted efforts to stop it, recent reports from the Massey Herbarium at Virginia Tech university have revealed that it has started to turn up in Clarke County as well - making Virginia the eighth US state to have been affected.
Locals have been warned to keep away from it and report any sightings.
The plants are particularly difficult to eradicate because their seeds can remain viable for years.
A 2015 news report about identifying giant hogweed in the United States can be viewed below.
Genesis warned us! Turn and run Nothing can stop them Around every river and canal Their power is growing Stamp them out We must destroy them They infiltrate each city With their thick dark warning odour They are invincible They seem immune to all our herbicidal battering Long ago in the Russian hills A Victorian explorer found The regal Hogweed by a marsh He captured it and brought it home Botanical creature stirs Seeking revenge Royal beast did not forget He came home to London And made a present of the Hogweed To the Royal Gardens at Kew Waste no time They are approaching Hurry now, we must... [More]
Do we know whether the burns are caused by an acidic or alkaline substance? I'd like if you had a patch of them and the burns are caused by acid, a good dose of NaOH might work, provided the NaOH will be absorbed with the water the plant takes up. NaCl may be good as well. From everything that has to be done to get rid of it, the area cleared is probably sterile for a long time anyway.
I wonder if someone planted this deliberately knowing what this plant can do to humans. The fact that it showed up out of nowhere makes me think that this happened.
It was planted deliberately- at least in the UK and U.S. it was. Not due to it's toxicity though. It was planted as an ornamental landscaping plant because it's a huge lovely plant.
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