"Horror plant" causes 3rd degree burns, blindness spreading in upstate NY

[Mk44]

NY DEC has issued a alert about this dangerous plant species (giant hogweed) that could be in your backyard...

'Horror Plant' causes 3rd-degree burns, blindness, is spreading in Upstate NY (photos)

Sorry if this has been posted.

 

[Deplorable Me]

Hogweed has been a problem for a few years in East Aurora, Elma, Marilla, Wales. The local towns put out notice. It grows right by the road side.

I've always been a fan of wearing long sleeves and long pants when bushwhacking, even in the summer.

 

[@thewheels]

Those reactions are crazy.
Is it possible to be immune to the sap? I could swear I used to hack that stuff up with a machete and bare hands as a kid out in the fields and woods behind my parents place. Maybe there's a plant that looks similar.

 

[Celt]

my wife was just talking about this plant a week or two ago and we looked up all this info to warn the kids. Thankfully there arent many near us, but there are plants down here. cant believe you can go blind from these damn things.

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

Other things cause blindness...at least that's what I hear.

 

[togmaster]

Other things cause blindness...at least that's what I hear.

Yup,the same thing causes hair to grow on your palms too.

 

[Karpteach]

Yup,the same thing causes hair to grow on your palms too.

Other things cause blindness...at least that's what I hear.

NoT True! I would be blind three times over and look like cousin It!!!

 

[ManrisFrack]

Those reactions are crazy.
Is it possible to be immune to the sap? I could swear I used to hack that stuff up with a machete and bare hands as a kid out in the fields and woods behind my parents place. Maybe there's a plant that looks similar.

Giant Hogweed Identification - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation

Wild (cow) parsnip looks very similar but is smaller.

 

[Greywolf224]

ULSTER county looks to be safe. Keep this crap up in your neck of NY.

 

[@thewheels]

Giant Hogweed Identification - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation

Wild (cow) parsnip looks very similar but is smaller.

ahh...good call. I bet it was that stuff.

 

[E the massive]

Those reactions are crazy.
Is it possible to be immune to the sap? I could swear I used to hack that stuff up with a machete and bare hands as a kid out in the fields and woods behind my parents place. Maybe there's a plant that looks similar.

Same here. Got it bordering the lawn/woods. Same looking flowers just allot smaller. Think it's "Queen Anne's lace".

 

[GOYABEAN]

just don't smoke it and you should be good to go

 

[Robin]

I've seen it in Hemlock, just off 15A.
Robin

 

[Celt]

Other things cause blindness...at least that's what I hear.

It must be a myth or id be legally blind.

 

[Podmonkey]

Transplant it all in NYC then.

 

[Acer-m14]

Those reactions are crazy.
Is it possible to be immune to the sap? I could swear I used to hack that stuff up with a machete and bare hands as a kid out in the fields and woods behind my parents place. Maybe there's a plant that looks similar.

this is what happens to people and kids that spend all there time on xbox or phone ..
there not out in the mud and have no immune system ..

 

[12GA]

I was camping and fly fishing in Allegheny County two weeks ago and there was a lot of this around but I was informed by DEC this was not Hogweed. Did my best to steer clear of it nonetheless.

 

[Mk44]

Never heard of this plant until this article. Glad I read it & will be keeping my distance from it.

 

[BDinPutnam]

You guys just gave me a great excuse to avoid weedeating the driveway, lol.

 

[thegatman]

Those reactions are crazy.
Is it possible to be immune to the sap? I could swear I used to hack that stuff up with a machete and bare hands as a kid out in the fields and woods behind my parents place. Maybe there's a plant that looks similar.

Queen’s Ann Lace looks similar. It is related to the carrot.

 

[1075tech]

I get nearly the same reactions from poison ivy. I don't even have to touch it directly. If it was growing in a field that is now a construction site, I'll get a rash just from the contact with the dirt or even if the dust is blowing my way. Touching it results in huge, weeping blisters. I can't imagine what hogweed would do for me.

 

[Doc8404]

Queen’s Ann Lace looks similar. It is related to the carrot.

As I was pulling QAL today, I was like “WTF. Hope this isn’t GHw.”

 

[Doc8404]

Wow queens anne's lace contraceptive abortion - Google Search

 

[Acer-m14]

I was camping and fly fishing in Allegheny County two weeks ago and there was a lot of this around but I was informed by DEC this was not Hogweed. Did my best to steer clear of it nonetheless.

i think thats rag weed .. nothing to worrie about ..

what worse .. hog weed or Maxine Waters ... if you find some .. never mind lol

 

[MuttCat]

Hog weed and wild parsnip are bad news and anybody who may come in contact with either should learn to recognize both. Yes, there are other plants that are safe that look similar...best to avoid altogether. Interesting that the wild parsnip is the same parsnip in the grocery store.

 

[Toecutter]

What out for this one as well stay away and call the authorities immediately.

 

[Bushmaster]

Few years back that stuff was all over the place in one area of Wayne County NY, think it was in Macedon, or Palmyra.

 

[Catskillkid]

ULSTER county looks to be safe. Keep this crap up in your neck of NY.

Not quite true. My organization found a small infestation just outside of Woodstock. In fact there are pictures of me standing next to it for scale (that crap was big!). It was eradicated by DEC. But if it was there I'm sure it was in other places too.

 

[Loren Littlejohn]

Those reactions are crazy.
Is it possible to be immune to the sap? I could swear I used to hack that stuff up with a machete and bare hands as a kid out in the fields and woods behind my parents place. Maybe there's a plant that looks similar.

I think you might be thinking of Queen Ann's lace.

 

[Criticalt]

Those reactions are crazy.
Is it possible to be immune to the sap? I could swear I used to hack that stuff up with a machete and bare hands as a kid out in the fields and woods behind my parents place. Maybe there's a plant that looks similar.

As mentioned, there are plants that look the same.
If you see an adult Giant Hogweed, you will not mistake it for anything else.
You will instantly say, "what the hell is that??".
It is enormous and looks like its from another planet.
The leaves are 20x bigger than anything native.
A couple years ago we found a few on the Jamestown Audubon public trails in Chautauqua Co.