Editing Heracleum maximum (section)

==Description==
[[File:Heracleum lanatum buds.jpg|thumb|The leaves are up to {{convert|40|cm|in|abbr=on}} across and divided into lobes.]]
[[File:Heracleum maximum 3935.JPG|thumb|The seeds are {{cvt|8|-|12|mm|frac=16|in|1}} long and {{cvt|5|-|8|mm|frac=16|in|1}} wide.]]

Cow parsnip is a tall [[herbaceous]] perennial plant,<ref name="Quattrocchi2016">{{cite book |author=Umberto Quattrocchi |title=CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology (5 Volume Set) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-37OBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA1959 |date=19 April 2016 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-1-4822-5064-0 |pages=1959–}}</ref> reaching heights of {{convert|3|m|ft|0|abbr=off}}.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Spellenberg |first=Richard |url=https://archive.org/details/nationalaudubons00spel/page/340/ |title=National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Western Region |publisher=Knopf |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-375-40233-3 |edition=rev |pages=340–341 |orig-date=1979}}</ref> The stems are hollow and densely hairy.<ref name="FosterHobbs2002">{{cite book |author1=Steven Foster |author2=Christopher Hobbs |title=A Field Guide to Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tg_bPUzhJ9oC&pg=PA67 |year=2002 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |isbn=0-395-83806-1 |pages=67–}}</ref> The [[leaves]] are very large, up to {{convert|40|cm|in|abbr=off}} across and divided into three lobes.<ref name=":0" /> Cow parsnip has the characteristic flower [[umbel]]s of the carrot family ([[Apiaceae]]), blooming from February to September.<ref name=":0" /> The umbels can reach {{convert|30|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} 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 {{convert|8|-|12|mm|frac=8|in|1}} long and {{cvt|5|-|8|mm|frac=16|in|1}} wide.<ref name="snflora" />

=== Similar species ===
''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 (plant)|Heracleum]]'' species include ''[[Heracleum mantegazzianum|H.&nbsp;mantegazzianum]]'', ''[[Heracleum sosnowskyi|H.&nbsp;sosnowskyi]]'', and ''[[Heracleum persicum|H.&nbsp;persicum]]''. Other similar species include [[Daucus carota|wild carrot]], [[Anthriscus sylvestris|cow parsley]], [[Conium maculatum|poison hemlock]], wild [[parsnip]], and species of the genus ''[[Angelica]]''.<ref name="inatsim" />