Mystery Plant

Fishy Cover · 06-15-2005, 05:50 PM

Can anyone identify this plant? It is now over 7 feet tall.

I think my wife traded the cow for beans and planted the beans but she insists that ths is a flower she planted and just forgot the name.

Any help will be appreciated

Onshore · 06-16-2005, 07:31 AM

It looks like something from the same family as Giant Hogweed, which is a very nasty invasive species. It has been found in parts of New England but I'm not certain if it has made it to NH. If you contact Doug Cygan at the at the NH Dept of Agriculture at (603)271-3488 he would be willing to look at it and help you positively ID it.

Grant · 06-16-2005, 08:04 AM

Ever see "Little Shop of Horrors"???

Zee · 06-16-2005, 08:17 AM

This plant looks very much like a plant we have at our home in central Mass. If it is, I would caution you to be careful. My husband has tried to remove it and got some nasty white bumps on his skin. I don't know what it is called.

Onshore · 06-16-2005, 09:16 AM

The plant you are describing is most likely Giant Hogweed.

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/cipwg/giant_hogweed.html

It is definately not something we want to allow to get established in NH.

lakegirl · 06-16-2005, 01:49 PM

Here is another link for you to look at:
http://www.mass.gov/agr/pestalert/giant_hogweed.htm

Good Luck!!!

Fishy Cover · 06-16-2005, 03:35 PM

Thanks for the warning and references. I have compared the photos and look alikes in the references and what I have does not seem to match perfectly. Nevertheless it is a scary plant and I'll remove it immediately, and safely. Many thanks for your advice.

Next-- any suggestions about getting my cow back?

Spider Girl · 06-16-2005, 08:09 PM

May I ask if the flowers have a very sweet scent? If they do, it could be an old fashioned perennial like the one I have in my garden. It is not particularly invasive, always flowers at the same time as the peonies, and adds a nice frangrance to any bouquet.

Lakewinniboater · 06-20-2005, 04:21 PM

It actually looks more like "Queen Ann's Lace". This is what a lot of florists use as filler for arrangements. (in the smaller variety of course)

It smells rather horrible too.

Fishy Cover · 06-21-2005, 11:30 AM

Doug Cygan of NH Dept of Agriculture visited today and identified the mystery pland as a Water Parsnip. It is from the same family as the Giant Hogweed, but smaller and needs to be destroyed carefully because the sap is phototoxic.

We have young grandchildren and am relieved that they will not be at risk because of this. We have absolutely no idea how the seed for this plant arrived in our little flower garden. We have never seen it in our neighborhood, so perhaps it came in a flat with flowers we purchased.

Many thanks to Doug Cygan and to other forum viewers for your advice.

SAMIAM · 06-21-2005, 06:43 PM

The bottom photo looked like the leaves of the devil ganji.....you might want to check with your kids........if they're giggling and eating everything in sight.....that will be the clue.

06-15-2005, 05:50 PM	#1
Fishy Cover Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 134 Thanks: 10 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Mystery Plant Can anyone identify this plant? It is now over 7 feet tall. I think my wife traded the cow for beans and planted the beans but she insists that ths is a flower she planted and just forgot the name. Any help will be appreciated Attached Images

06-16-2005, 08:04 AM	#3
Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pennsyltuckey, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough Posts: 1,499 Thanks: 373 Thanked 229 Times in 123 Posts	Audrey! Ever see "Little Shop of Horrors"??? __________________ "When I die, please don't let my wife sell my dive gear for what I told her I paid for it."

06-16-2005, 08:17 AM	#4
Zee Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Union Wharf, Tuftonboro Posts: 173 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 1 Post	Caution This plant looks very much like a plant we have at our home in central Mass. If it is, I would caution you to be careful. My husband has tried to remove it and got some nasty white bumps on his skin. I don't know what it is called.

06-16-2005, 01:49 PM	#6
lakegirl Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Gilford-Northern MA Posts: 38 Thanks: 3 Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts	More on Hogweed Here is another link for you to look at: http://www.mass.gov/agr/pestalert/giant_hogweed.htm Good Luck!!! __________________ Lakegirl Never leave home without your camera

06-16-2005, 03:35 PM	#7
Fishy Cover Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 134 Thanks: 10 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Wow Thanks for the warning and references. I have compared the photos and look alikes in the references and what I have does not seem to match perfectly. Nevertheless it is a scary plant and I'll remove it immediately, and safely. Many thanks for your advice. Next-- any suggestions about getting my cow back?

06-16-2005, 07:31 AM	#2
Onshore Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 502 Thanks: 12 Thanked 423 Times in 145 Posts	It looks like something from the same family as Giant Hogweed, which is a very nasty invasive species. It has been found in parts of New England but I'm not certain if it has made it to NH. If you contact Doug Cygan at the at the NH Dept of Agriculture at (603)271-3488 he would be willing to look at it and help you positively ID it.

06-16-2005, 09:16 AM	#5
Onshore Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 502 Thanks: 12 Thanked 423 Times in 145 Posts	The plant you are describing is most likely Giant Hogweed. http://www.hort.uconn.edu/cipwg/giant_hogweed.html It is definately not something we want to allow to get established in NH.

06-16-2005, 08:09 PM	#8
Spider Girl Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 37 Thanks: 40 Thanked 11 Times in 3 Posts	Mystery Plant May I ask if the flowers have a very sweet scent? If they do, it could be an old fashioned perennial like the one I have in my garden. It is not particularly invasive, always flowers at the same time as the peonies, and adds a nice frangrance to any bouquet. __________________ Spider Girl

06-20-2005, 04:21 PM	#9
Lakewinniboater Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Westford, MA and Alton Bay, NH Posts: 225 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	It actually looks more like It actually looks more like "Queen Ann's Lace". This is what a lot of florists use as filler for arrangements. (in the smaller variety of course) It smells rather horrible too. __________________ Wendy "Wasn't Me!"

06-21-2005, 11:30 AM	#10
Fishy Cover Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 134 Thanks: 10 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Mystery plant identified Doug Cygan of NH Dept of Agriculture visited today and identified the mystery pland as a Water Parsnip. It is from the same family as the Giant Hogweed, but smaller and needs to be destroyed carefully because the sap is phototoxic. We have young grandchildren and am relieved that they will not be at risk because of this. We have absolutely no idea how the seed for this plant arrived in our little flower garden. We have never seen it in our neighborhood, so perhaps it came in a flat with flowers we purchased. Many thanks to Doug Cygan and to other forum viewers for your advice.

06-21-2005, 06:43 PM	#11
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,891 Thanks: 334 Thanked 1,673 Times in 584 Posts	The bottom photo looked like the leaves of the devil ganji.....you might want to check with your kids........if they're giggling and eating everything in sight.....that will be the clue.