Editing Heracleum maximum (section)

== Distribution and habitat ==
{{multiple images|perrow=1
|image1=Big pushki.jpg
|caption1=Specimen in [[Homer, Alaska]]
|image2=Big pushki in winter.jpg
|caption2=The same spot in late winter, showing the dead white stalks
}}

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 (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. It occurs from sea level to elevations of about {{convert|9000|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}.<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>{{cite web |title=Heracleum lanatum Michx. |url=https://www.gbif.org/species/3034828 |access-date=September 25, 2018 |publisher=Global Biodiversity Information Facility}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Heracleum lanatum: Cow Parsnip |url=http://eol.org/pages/489575/maps |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926052028/http://eol.org/pages/489575/maps |archive-date=2018-09-26 |access-date=September 25, 2018 |publisher=Encyclopedia of Life}}</ref>