Any plant experts about? is this hogweed or cow parsley?

[cob&onion]

I am 90% sure this is HOGWEED, but my OH and his dad say its cow parsley.
Its growing at the back of the garden up against a fence, its about 10 foot tall, really chunky and bigger than cow parsley. Its right at the back behind lots of shrubs so well out of reach (i know they can be pretty nasty things)

Please tell me what it is so i can get the salt and pepper out the cupboard so they can eat their own hats

PS sorry its a bit dark out but you get the general jist..........

 

[cob&onion]

bump the suspense is killing us (me)

 

[muff747]

I am almost certain cow parsley does not grow to 10' high but hogweed is much taller.
Hope this helps!!
Found this on google

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=458

 

[MrsHutt]

As far as I knew, the main difference between the two to look at is the size. Cow parsley is a max of 3' and hogweed can be huge (10' sounds too big for cow parsley). Get rid of it (carefully!)

 

[Dobiegirl]

I would say it was Hogwed and the seeds are much larger than Cow parsley.

 

[china]

looks like cow parsley to me, hogweed is mahoosive and chunky and it burns so dont touch it just incase ;-)
http://y2u.co.uk/knowledge_information/I_zq5/RN_Plant_Giant_Hogweed.jpg

 

[cob&onion]

It just looks so much chunkier than cow parsley, will have another good look at it tomorrow when its light - i have armed myself with info on it.
Not that i would touch it!!!
Has anyone had any bad experiences with this nasty stuff??

 

[Foxhunter49]

Hog Weed for sure. Cow parsley will not be as tall and the stalks not as thick and the flowers not as flat.

 

[Fii]

I can't see it properly to tell, but hogweed flower is heavier and denser than cowparsley, Cowparsley flower is soft and fluffy, if you like.
The leaves of cowparsley are different to hogweed as well, cowparsley is more feathered.
Also just to confuse you even more, there are lot's and lots of plants with white flowers, that look very simular to both plants.

 

[lhotse]

It's definitely not cow parsley, it's way past flowering time for that now. Giant hogweed.

 

[Bangagin]

Difficult to tell from those photos - the leaves of hogweed are different to that of cow parsley. Try Google images for both plants and see if that helps.

 

[1stclassalan]

To clarify - there are at least TWO varieties of Hogweed you're likely to find in the U.K. one is hardly distinguishable from some of the Cow Parsley type Umbelliferas ( that's medium ot tallish weeds with compound leaves and flat heads to many tiny white flowers )

Giant Hogweed - Herca..... something, it's been a long day... gigantium can be a truly monstrous plant 10ft tall vast leaves and stems topped by huge flower heads - these are the ones that contain irritant substances.

If you'd like to take some more photos - in daylight or once the eclipse finishes ( hahaha) I'll have another go.

 

[lhotse]

Um, no, hogweed, both types look completely different to cow parsley. The plant similar to cow parsley is hemlock. Normal hogweed still has rather robust flowerheads as apposed to the rather dainty flowerheads of cow parsley and hemlock.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Peering through the gloom, those leaves look more like cow parsley to me. There is still some flowering in our area.

 

[Dobiegirl]

Can you tell us where it is growing. Hogweed tends to grow in damp ditches and near water. Cow Parsley grows on verges.

 

[lhotse]

It's not cow parsley, and that I am 100% sure of. Whether it is native hogweed or the intruder giant hogweed is difficult to tell, although if the height is correct, then it would most likey be the latter.

 

[RutlandH2O]

Without meaning to throw a spanner into the works, could it be hemlock? The stem of hemlock is smooth (unlike cow parsley) and is covered with purple/red spots. It has finely dissected
leaves and is seriously toxic (all parts of the plant, but
particularly the seeds). It is very unpalatable alive, but dead
and dry, livestock will eat it.

 

[1stclassalan]

Um, no, hogweed, both types look completely different to cow parsley. The plant similar to cow parsley is hemlock. Normal hogweed still has rather robust flowerheads as apposed to the rather dainty flowerheads of cow parsley and hemlock.

I think you must be suffering from altitude sickness Lhotse - hogweed and cow parsley do not look COMPLETELY different - there are many similarities but your hemlock has flipping purple flowers for chrissakes!!!

 

[RutlandH2O]

What I just forgot to add was that it kills. It, too, grows in damp
margins.

 

[RutlandH2O]

1srclassalan: I believe you are thinking of deadly nightshade
when you mention purple flowers. Hemlock has white flowers.

 

[Fii]

I think you must be suffering from altitude sickness Lhotse - hogweed and cow parsley do not look COMPLETELY different - there are many similarities but your hemlock has flipping purple flowers for chrissakes!!!

Hogweed and cowparsley do indeed look completly diferent!
And hemlock does have white flowers, bit more homework needed i think 1stclassalan!!

 

[mulledwhine]

It is not deadly nightshade, I have got some that needs killing, and that is a trailing plant

 

[*hic*]

If that's ten feet tall you ahve some mahoosive nettles.

 

[councillor]

Hog weed has a very thick stem that is a kinda purple/ redish colour (especialy around the base) and are hairy and spotty.On large mature plants I often think it looks like a coli flower stuck on top. It thrives in humid damp areas. I am no expert at all, just have loads of it where I live.
Don't try to remove it yourself, I have had a blister from hog weed, playing in amongst it as a kid, and it burns for ages, get someone in to remove it for you.

 

[lhotse]

I think you must be suffering from altitude sickness Lhotse - hogweed and cow parsley do not look COMPLETELY different - there are many similarities but your hemlock has flipping purple flowers for chrissakes!!!

How rude you are!
Hemlock is VERY similar to cowparsley, the only easily distinguising feature being that hemlock has purple spots on the stem. The flowers are WHITE, and very similar to cowparsley. The leaves of both plants are extremely similar.
Hogweed on the other hand has large leaves, not the delicate 'parley' leaves of it's two relatives. The flowerheads are large and flat, they are not dainty like cowparsley and hemlock.
I think you should do your homework before you accuse others of being wrong.
Oh, and I'm in the process of collecting data on wild plant and flower species for the local nature reserve, not to mention tree species as well.

And I climb mountains as well, so I know all about altitude sickness and I'm certainly not suffering from it!!!!

 

[giveachance]

Thanks c & e for posting this. I came across some, what I now know to be hog weed thanks to the thread, and had no idea what it was. To be completely honest I thought someone had G.M'd cow parsley But now I know it was hog weed.

 

[1stclassalan]

How rude you are!

Ummm.... I don't think my comments were at all "rude" - nothing profane or rustically deteriorated in them - I'll accept impertinent - I've been that most of my life so I'm not giving up now!

Hemlock is VERY similar to cowparsley, the only easily distinguising feature being that hemlock has purple spots on the stem. The flowers are WHITE, and very similar to cowparsley. The leaves of both plants are extremely similar.

And you are completely correct - I stand cowed by your overawing knowledge.

I think you should do your homework before you accuse others of being wrong.

Ah - this is the Interweb - it's full of people telling each other they're wrong without knowing who's right!

I was convinced that Hemlock was Henbane when I flew to the keyboard! My utmost apologies. And before you say that Henbane doesn't have purple flowers - the strain I have does.

Oh, and I'm in the process of collecting data on wild plant and flower species for the local nature reserve, not to mention tree species as well.

I quail before your intelect.

And I climb mountains as well,

Well .... come on then - have you climbed it???

 

[lhotse]

Lhotse, no I haven't actually!!! But I know a few who have!

 

[Spottyappy]

I'd agree with hemlock. Deadly(used to be used for executions!).
We have a far worse problem with that round my way than with ragwort....

 

[albeg]

It sounds like giant hogweed. Be really careful when getting rid of it, the sap is phototoxic.
Giant Hogweed info and images here, it has a purple blotched stem.

Could be hemlock ether, as it looks similar
Link

Your pictures seem to show that it doesn't have leaves, which leads me to think that it's hogweed, not hemlock, but can't tell for definite.