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

[domane]

Although the pics are very dark, it looks like Common Hogweed to me. I've spent years thinking it is cow parsley and only learned the difference this year... it's everywhere, in all the hedgerows...

(pics courtesy of Google)

Flowers... which can grow to around 5ft....

Leaf...

It's very sweet at the moment which is why the horses go mad for it.... sounds like celery when they crunch on the stems which are thick. Fairly harmless but you wouldn't want to turn a horse out to gorge on a field of it.

On the other hand...

Giant Hogweed is a menace. As others have said, the sap is dangerous and severe blistering can occur. I think you'd know if the plant you are looking at is G.H. The stems are huge, more like mini-trunks than stems - the flower heads are WAY bigger than the pics you posted and the leaves can reach around 18" or more across ... it really lives up to the "giant" in it's name....

Pics again...

 

[Rob Lakeside]

The sap from hogweed causes blistering when it comes in contact with skin and sunlight combined

So if you wish to cut this down, carry this out on a shady day and keep yourself covered.

Giant hogweed is single stemed at the base and will reach 15ft especially when mother plant has been established for years and in a wet place.

This british native Hogweed is more dangerous to humans than horses see the doctor for treatment.

Sorry to upst you all but if this is at the back of a garden.
IT MAY BE ANGELICA a herb that, plant and seeds can be eaten

remenber other species of the Umbellifery family are
Carrots
Parsnips
sweet ceciley
parsley

And yes I am the horticulturist

 

[cob&onion]

The sap from hogweed causes blistering when it comes in contact with skin and sunlight combined

So if you wish to cut this down, carry this out on a shady day and keep yourself covered.

Giant hogweed is single stemed at the base and will reach 15ft especially when mother plant has been established for years and in a wet place.

This british native Hogweed is more dangerous to humans than horses see the doctor for treatment.

Sorry to upst you all but if this is at the back of a garden.
IT MAY BE ANGELICA a herb that, plant and seeds can be eaten

remenber other species of the Umbellifery family are
Carrots
Parsnips
sweet ceciley
parsley

And yes I am the horticulturist

Please can you check my up to date post with more pics on the subject
much appreciated
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=467113

 

[Fii]

Sorry to upst you all but if this is at the back of a garden.
IT MAY BE ANGELICA a herb that, plant and seeds can be eaten


And yes I am the horticulturist

Yes, although the leaves arent the same as Hogweed, and the flowers of Angelica are more greenish than white.

I am not a horticulturist, but am very interested in wild plants, and am learning as i go along.
At the moment we are pulling ragwort on some couple of hundred acres, and if i come across something i don't know the name of, i pick a sample and then research it, it took me weeks to find out that one plant was fleabane.
I highly recomend , The illustrated encyclopedia of herbs, as a reference book.

 

[lhotse]

The sap from hogweed causes blistering when it comes in contact with skin and sunlight combined

So if you wish to cut this down, carry this out on a shady day and keep yourself covered.

Giant hogweed is single stemed at the base and will reach 15ft especially when mother plant has been established for years and in a wet place.

This british native Hogweed is more dangerous to humans than horses see the doctor for treatment.

Giant hogweed is not native to this country!!