Heracleum mantegazzianum

Photographing down by the local river yesterday, I spotted these dead giant hogweeds and thought they'd come in very handy for future blips so I wrenched off a few of the gigantic heads and brought them home. They're so beautiful but it wasn't until I googled them that I realised how poisonous they are when they're alive.
Taken this morning on the back door steps, waving it around at arms length against the sky with one hand while taking a pic with the other :)

Happy Birthday Benek and Bluesheep!!


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(taken from bbc website)
Giant Hogweed

The plant is a native of the Caucasus mountains of south-west Asia. Like many invasive alien plants such as Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam, it was introduced into Britain in the 1800s by Victorian explorers who were impressed by its architectural beauty, but were blissfully unaware of the plant's rapacious nature. From the relative safety of estate gardens it escaped into water courses and waste ground where, devoid of any natural enemies, it grew into dense colonies.

The Giant Hogweed propagates mainly through seed dispersal. It flowers between May and July, and its many seeds appear later in the summer. The seeds fall to the ground and can remain active in the soil for up to seven years. Disturbing or transporting the soil around it promotes infestation in new sites. During the summer, the plant's dense foliage is effective in preventing light reaching the ground beneath it. As a result, native vegetation can be killed off and this can lead to rapid soil erosion in affected areas.

Health Hazard

The plant's leaves and stem produce a watery sap containing a chemical, which renders human skin highly sensitive to ultraviolet light. Touching the plant or brushing against it is enough to cause quite serious injury. Exposed to sunlight, the sap will cause painful blistering within a few hours of contact. The healing process can be slow, and your skin may remain sensitive to sunlight for the rest of your life. Contact can also produce permanent discolouration of the affected areas of skin and blindness can result from contact with the eyes. If any sap reaches your skin, you must wash it off immediately with soap and water while avoiding direct sunlight. You should also seek medical advice as quickly as possible.

Summary

Giant Hogweed is a dangerous plant and there are numerous cases of people being scarred for life as a result of touching and cutting down the plants. If you find Giant Hogweed growing unexpectedly in a place near you, contact your local authority who will assist you with the plant's eradication and disposal.