Heracleum maximum
Template:Short description Template:Speciesbox
Heracleum maximum, commonly known as cow parsnip, is the only member of the genus Heracleum native to North America. It is also known as American cow-parsnip,<ref name="gobot" /> Satan celery, Indian celery, Indian rhubarb,<ref name="Kuhnlein-Turner 19864" /> poison turnip<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> or pushki.
DescriptionEdit
Cow parsnip is a tall herbaceous perennial plant,<ref name="Quattrocchi2016">Template:Cite book</ref> reaching heights of Template:Convert.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> The stems are hollow and densely hairy.<ref name="FosterHobbs2002">Template:Cite book</ref> The leaves are very large, up to Template:Convert across and divided into three lobes.<ref name=":0" /> Cow parsnip has the characteristic flower umbels of the carrot family (Apiaceae), blooming from February to September.<ref name=":0" /> The umbels can reach Template:Convert across,<ref name=":0" /> flat-topped or rounded, and composed of small white flowers. Sometimes the outer flowers of the umbel are much larger than the inner ones. The seeds are Template:Convert long and Template:Cvt wide.<ref name="snflora" />
Similar speciesEdit
Heracleum maximum is commonly confused with Heracleum mantegazzianum (giant hogweed),<ref name="inatsim" /> a much larger plant that typically has purplish spots on the stems, as well as more sharply serrated leaves.<ref name="maine" />
Other tall invasive Heracleum species include H. mantegazzianum, H. sosnowskyi, and H. persicum. Other similar species include wild carrot, cow parsley, poison hemlock, wild parsnip, and species of the genus Angelica.<ref name="inatsim" />
TaxonomyEdit
The Plant List (which was last updated in 2013) classified H. maximum, H. lanatum, and H. sphondylium subsp. montanum as distinct species.<ref name="tro-1702106" /><ref name="tro-1700134" /><ref name="kew-2898302" /> According to both the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) or the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS), H. lanatum and H. maximum are synonyms for H. sphondylium subsp. montanum,<ref name="ITIS-525943" /><ref name="NPGS-319140" /> a name proposed by Brummitt in 1971.Template:R
According to the Plant List and Plants of the World Online, H. lanatum and H. maximum are both accepted names, the latter with no infraspecific taxa.<ref name="tro-1702106" /><ref name="powo" />Template:Efn On the other hand, neither are recognized as accepted names by either the ITIS or NPGS. Besides H. lanatum and H. maximum, various scientific names have been attributed to this species.<ref name="UMT-73973" />
Synonyms of the grouping previously classified H. lanatum include:
- Heracleum montanum
- Heracleum sphondylium subsp. lanatum
- Heracleum sphondylium var. lanatum
- Heracleum sphondylium subsp. montanum
Synonyms listed at Plants of the World Online include:<ref name="powo" /> Template:Species list
As H. lanatum, it is listed as having the variety asiaticum.<ref name="Kuhnlein-Turner 19864" /><ref name="UMT-73973" /><ref name="powo" />
The genus name Heracleum (from "Heracles") refers to the very large size of all parts of these plants.<ref name="horn1998" />
Distribution and habitatEdit
The species is native to North America, being distributed throughout most of the continental United States (except the Gulf Coast and a few neighboring states), ranging from the Aleutian Islands and Alaska in the far northwest to Newfoundland on the east coast, extending south as far as California, New Mexico, Kansas, Ohio, and Georgia. It occurs from sea level to elevations of about Template:Convert.<ref name="snflora" /> It is especially prevalent in Alaska, where it is often found growing amongst plants like devil's club, which is nearly identical in size and somewhat similar in appearance, and monkshood, a very toxic flower. In Canada, it is found in every province and territory except Nunavut. It is listed as "Endangered" in Kentucky and "Special Concern" in Tennessee.<ref name="PLANTS" /> The plant is also found in Siberia, East Asia, and the Kuril Islands.<ref name="UMT-73973" /><ref name="Kuhnlein-Turner 19864" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
EcologyEdit
The species is widely recognized as a valuable pasture plant for cows, sheep, and goats. It is also known to be important in the diets of numerous wild animals, especially bears, both grizzly bears and black bears.<ref name="UMT-73973" /> It is a host plant for the black swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes), short-tailed swallowtail butterfly (Papilio brevicauda), old world swallowtail butterfly (Papilio machaon), anise swallowtail butterfly (Papilio zelicaon), and the moths Eupithecia tripunctaria, Papaipema harrisii, Papaipema impecuniosa, Agonopterix clemensella, Agonopterix flavicomella, and Depressaria pastinacella.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
ToxicityEdit
The plant contains furanocoumarins such as xanthotoxin,<ref name="camm1976" /> angelicin, pimpinellin and isopimpinellin, isoimperatorin, bergapten and isobergapten, Template:Nowrap, and sphondin.<ref name="bahadori2016" /><ref name="oneill2013" /><ref name="camm1976" /> In one study, the young leaves did not contain xanthotoxin, but older, senescing leaves contained "substantial amounts".<ref name="camm1976" /> Some of these furanocoumarins found in cow parsnip are known to have antimicrobial<ref name="bahadori2016" /><ref name="camm1976" /> properties and are responsible for a rash producing erythematous vesicles (burn-like blisters) and hyperpigmentation that occurs after getting the clear sap onto one's skin.<ref name="turner1973" /><ref name="camm1976" /><ref name="meades" /> They are photosensitive, with the rash occurring only after exposure to ultraviolet light.<ref name="camm1976" /><ref name="meades" /> Because of this, phytophotodermatitis causing skin blistering may occur after coming into contact with the sap on a sunny day.<ref name="meades" /> The scars and pigmentation from these blisters caused by some Heracleum species can last for months or years.<ref name="bahadori2016" />
UsesEdit
The thick flower stems, coming into season in early summer, can be peeled and eaten cooked when young, as was done by Native Americans.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":0" /> Caution should be taken as the flowers resemble those of the extremely poisonous Cicuta maculata.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Indigenous North Americans have had a variety of uses for cow parsnip, often traveling long distances in the spring—Template:Convert or more—to find the succulent plant shoots.<ref name="Kuhnlein-Turner 19864" /> The young stems and leafstalks were peeled and usually eaten raw, while early American settlers cooked the plant.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In terms of taste, texture, and nutrients, the peeled stalks resembled celery, which gave rise to the common name "Indian celery". The natives were aware of the toxic effects of the plant, knowing that if the outer skin were not removed, one would get an "itchy mouth" or blistering skin.<ref name="Kuhnlein-Turner 19864" /><ref name="turner1973" /> Pregnant women were warned away from the flower bud stalks to prevent newborns from asphyxiating when crying.<ref name="Kuhnlein-Turner 19864" />
At least seven native groups in North America used the plant as a dermatological aid.<ref name="Kuhnlein-Turner 19864" /> It could be an ingredient in poultices applied to bruises or sores.<ref name="Kuhnlein-Turner 19864" /><ref name="ethno" /> A poultice prepared from the roots of cow parsnip was applied to swellings, especially of the feet.<ref name="UMT-73973" /> The dried stems were used as drinking straws for the old or infirm, or made into flutes for children. An infusion of the flowers can be rubbed on the body to repel flies and mosquitoes. A yellow dye can be made from the roots.<ref name="ethno" />
ReferencesEdit
Footnotes Template:Notelist
Citations Template:Reflist