I have an overgrown bank under trees and bushes; apart from bluebells and daffodils in season, it has nettles, ground elder, garlic mustard, goosegrass, ivy etc that I try and keep under control. I now have this thing - it's thigh-high with long red hairy stems and big leaves (about hand-sized). I'm hoping it's not ground-elder gone triffid-size. Can anyone identify it please? Thanks.

It looks like hogweed, which is not a problem. If it carries on growing till it is taller than you, it may be giant hogweed, which can cause skin rashes.

Thanks Kay. I'll leave it alone for the moment then.

On 30/05/2013 19:31, Blenny wrote:

I have an overgrown bank under trees and bushes; apart from bluebells
and daffodils in season, it has nettles, ground elder, garlic mustard,
goosegrass, ivy etc that I try and keep under control. I now have this
thing - it's thigh-high with long red hairy stems and big leaves (about
hand-sized). I'm hoping it's not ground-elder gone triffid-size. Can
anyone identify it please? Thanks.


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Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium).




--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

Thanks Stewart. Looks as if it might be good for insects then.

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Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium).




--
Stewart Robert Hinsley[/quote]

On 30/05/13 21:35, Blenny wrote:
kay;984303 Wrote:
It looks like hogweed, which is not a problem. If it carries on growing
till it is taller than you, it may be giant hogweed, which can cause
skin rashes.

Thanks Kay. I'll leave it alone for the moment then.

If it *is* hogweed (not the giant variety) the very young shoots make a
good vegetable.

--
Rusty Hinge

"RustyHinge" wrote in message
...
On 30/05/13 21:35, Blenny wrote:
kay;984303 Wrote:
It looks like hogweed, which is not a problem. If it carries on growing
till it is taller than you, it may be giant hogweed, which can cause
skin rashes.

Thanks Kay. I'll leave it alone for the moment then.

If it *is* hogweed (not the giant variety) the very young shoots make a
good vegetable.

--
Rusty Hinge

Ordinary hogweed also causes skin rashes if you get the sap on you then
allow sunlight to get to it.

--
Charlie, Gardening in Cornwall
Holders of National Collections of Clematis viticella
and Lapageria rosea cvs
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk

On 04/06/13 08:52, Charlie Pridham wrote:

"RustyHinge" wrote in message
...
On 30/05/13 21:35, Blenny wrote:
kay;984303 Wrote:
It looks like hogweed, which is not a problem. If it carries on growing
till it is taller than you, it may be giant hogweed, which can cause
skin rashes.

Thanks Kay. I'll leave it alone for the moment then.

If it *is* hogweed (not the giant variety) the very young shoots make
a good vegetable.

Ordinary hogweed also causes skin rashes if you get the sap on you then
allow sunlight to get to it.

I used to collect it by the barrowload for my host of wabbits. I don't
know how many gallons of sap I must have had flow over my hands with no
ill effect.


--
Rusty Hinge

I've handled the leaves without ill effect - but think I'll proceed with caution. Cooking it sounds tempting though!

On 04/06/2013 18:54, Blenny wrote:
RustyHinge;984582 Wrote:
On 04/06/13 08:52, Charlie Pridham wrote:-

"RustyHinge" wrote in message
...-
On 30/05/13 21:35, Blenny wrote:-
kay;984303 Wrote:
It looks like hogweed, which is not a problem. If it carries on
growing
till it is taller than you, it may be giant hogweed, which can cause
skin rashes.

Thanks Kay. I'll leave it alone for the moment then.-

If it *is* hogweed (not the giant variety) the very young shoots make
a good vegetable.-

Ordinary hogweed also causes skin rashes if you get the sap on you
then
allow sunlight to get to it.-

I used to collect it by the barrowload for my host of wabbits. I don't
know how many gallons of sap I must have had flow over my hands with no

ill effect.


--
Rusty Hinge


I've handled the leaves without ill effect - but think I'll proceed with
caution. Cooking it sounds tempting though!

You want to be 110% certain of the identity, particularly with
umbellifers, which contain some rather toxic plants.


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--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

On 04/06/13 18:54, Blenny wrote:

/hogweed/
I've handled the leaves without ill effect - but think I'll proceed with
caution. Cooking it sounds tempting though!

While the shoots are curled-up rather like bracken shoots.

Those, fat hen, and other wild foods were my staple from 2006 - 2008ish.

DWP cocked-up paying me my state pension for two and a half years,so it
was live off the land, starve, or turn to crime.

Fortunately, I have amassed a useful knowledge of edible plants, fungi,
and am a good shot.

--
Rusty Hinge

On 04/06/13 22:58, Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:

/hogweed/

I've handled the leaves without ill effect - but think I'll proceed with
caution. Cooking it sounds tempting though!

You want to be 110% certain of the identity, particularly with
umbellifers, which contain some rather toxic plants.

This is very true.

OTOH, many herbs and spices from the huge angelica to the small ground
elder have been used since the dawn of time.

--
Rusty Hinge

In article ,
says...

On 04/06/13 22:58, Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:

/hogweed/

I've handled the leaves without ill effect - but think I'll proceed with
caution. Cooking it sounds tempting though!

You want to be 110% certain of the identity, particularly with
umbellifers, which contain some rather toxic plants.

This is very true.

OTOH, many herbs and spices from the huge angelica to the small ground
elder have been used since the dawn of time.

Some of them, like hemlock, were used for killing people.

Janet

On 05/06/2013 00:06, RustyHinge wrote:
On 04/06/13 22:58, Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:

/hogweed/

I've handled the leaves without ill effect - but think I'll proceed with
caution. Cooking it sounds tempting though!

You want to be 110% certain of the identity, particularly with
umbellifers, which contain some rather toxic plants.

This is very true.

OTOH, many herbs and spices from the huge angelica to the small ground
elder have been used since the dawn of time.

Including Hemlock

What a lot of interesting info, thanks everyone! I don't plan to do anything until the plants produce some flowers, which they show no sign of at the moment.