Heracleum (plant)

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Heracleum
Heracleum sphondylium (Thome Bd.3 1905, BHL-81509, Tafel 451) clean, no-description.png
Heracleum sphondylium
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Apiaceae
Subfamily: Apioideae
Tribe: Tordylieae
Subtribe: Tordyliinae
Genus: Heracleum
L.
Synonyms [1]
  • BarysomaBunge
  • SphondyliumAdans.
  • WendiaHoffm.

Heracleum is a genus of biennial and perennial herbs in the carrot family Apiaceae. They are found throughout the temperate northern hemisphere and in high mountains as far south as Ethiopia. Common names for the genus or its species include hogweed [2] and cow parsnip. [3] [4]

Contents

The genus name Heracleum was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. [4] It derives from the Ancient Greek Ἡράκλειος (Hērákleios) "of Heracles", referring to the mythological hero.

Species

Many species of the genus Heracleum are similar in appearance. [5] An outlier is H. mantegazzianum, the large size of which is exceptional. Common species include:

As of January 2022, Plants of the World Online accepts the following 88 species:, [1] it had previously in 2019, up to 148.

Classification and naming

Other than size, the related species H. mantegazzianum, H. sosnowskyi, and H. persicum have very similar characteristics. The common name giant hogweed usually refers to H. mantegazzianum alone but in some locales that common name refers to all three species as a group. [6] [5] Both H. maximum and H. sphondylium are often referred to as cow parsnip. To avoid confusion, these species are sometimes referred to as American cow parsnip and European cow parsnip, respectively. [7] [8]

The morphological similarity of species within the genus Heracleum and the difficulty of botanical identification has led to numerous synonyms and naming issues. For example, the classification of the species now widely known as H. maximum has been inconsistent. In the literature, the scientific names H. lanatum, H. maximum, and others are used interchangeably. Prior to 2000, the former name was most popular, but today the latter name is in vogue.

Phototoxic effects

Most species of the genus Heracleum are known to cause phytophotodermatitis. [9] In particular, the public health risks of giant hogweed (H. mantegazzianum) are well known. [10] [11] [12]

At least 36 species of the genus Heracleum have been reported to contain furanocoumarin, [13] a chemical compound that sensitizes human skin to sunlight.[ citation needed ] Of those, at least 25 species contained a psoralen derivative, either bergapten (5-methoxypsoralen) or methoxsalen (8-methoxypsoralen). Three of those species (H. mantegazzianum, H. sosnowskyi, and H. sphondylium) were found to contain both psoralen derivatives.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apiaceae</span> Family of flowering plants

Apiaceae or Umbelliferae is a family of mostly aromatic flowering plants named after the type genus Apium and commonly known as the celery, carrot or parsley family, or simply as umbellifers. It is the 16th-largest family of flowering plants, with more than 3,800 species in about 446 genera, including such well-known and economically important plants as ajwain, angelica, anise, asafoetida, caraway, carrot, celery, chervil, coriander, cumin, dill, fennel, lovage, cow parsley, parsley, parsnip and sea holly, as well as silphium, a plant whose identity is unclear and which may be extinct.

<i>Heracleum maximum</i> Species of flowering plant

Heracleum maximum, commonly known as cow parsnip, is the only member of the genus Heracleum native to North America. It is also known as American cow-parsnip, Satan celery, Indian celery, Indian rhubarb or pushki.

<i>Heracleum mantegazzianum</i> Species of flowering plant

Heracleum mantegazzianum, commonly known as giant hogweed, is a monocarpic perennial herbaceous plant in the carrot family Apiaceae. H. mantegazzianum is also known as cartwheel-flower, giant cow parsley, giant cow parsnip, or hogsbane. In New Zealand, it is also sometimes called wild parsnip or wild rhubarb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Photodermatitis</span> Skin condition

Photodermatitis, sometimes referred to as sun poisoning or photoallergy, is a form of allergic contact dermatitis in which the allergen must be activated by light to sensitize the allergic response, and to cause a rash or other systemic effects on subsequent exposure. The second and subsequent exposures produce photoallergic skin conditions which are often eczematous. It is distinct from sunburn.

<i>Inula</i> Genus of flowering plants in the daisy family Asteraceae

Inula is a genus of about 80 species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, native to Europe, Asia and Africa.

<i>Bupleurum</i> Genus of flowering plants in the celery family Apiaceae

Bupleurum is a large genus of annual or perennial herbs or woody shrubs, with about 190 species, belonging to the family Apiaceae. The full size of its species may vary between a few cm to up to 3 m high. Their compound umbels of small flowers are adorned with bracteoles that are sometimes large and may play a role in attracting pollinators. Rare among the Apiaceae are the simple leaves, bracts, and bracteoles. The genus is almost exclusively native in the Old World Northern Hemisphere, with one species native to North America and one species native to southern Africa.

<i>Heracleum sphondylium</i> Species of flowering plant in the celery family Apiaceae

Heracleum sphondylium, commonly known as hogweed or common hogweed, is a herbaceous perennial plant in the carrot family Apiaceae, which includes fennel, cow parsley, ground elder and giant hogweed. It is native to most of Europe, western Asia and northern Africa, but is introduced in North America and elsewhere. Other common names include cow parsnip or eltrot. The flowers provide a great deal of nectar for pollinators.

<i>Rhagonycha fulva</i> Species of beetle

Rhagonycha fulva, the common red soldier beetle, also misleadingly known as the bloodsucker beetle, and popularly known in England as the hogweed bonking beetle is a species of soldier beetle (Cantharidae).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Furanocoumarin</span> Class of organic chemical compounds

The furanocoumarins, or furocoumarins, are a class of organic chemical compounds produced by a variety of plants. Most of the plant species found to contain furanocoumarins belong to a handful of plant families. The families Apiaceae and Rutaceae include the largest numbers of plant species that contain furanocoumarins. The families Moraceae and Fabaceae include a few widely distributed plant species that contain furanocoumarins.

<i>Conioselinum</i> Genus of flowering plants

Conioselinum is a genus of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native to Eurasia and North America. Its species are erect perennial plants with deeply toothed compound leaves and umbels of white flowers. Plants of this genus are known commonly as hemlock-parsley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phytophotodermatitis</span> Medical condition

Phytophotodermatitis, also known as berloque dermatitis or margarita photodermatitis, is a cutaneous phototoxic inflammatory reaction resulting from contact with a light-sensitizing botanical agent followed by exposure to ultraviolet light. Symptoms include erythema, edema, blisters, and delayed hyperpigmentation. Heat and moisture tend to exacerbate the reaction.

Heracleum persicum, commonly known as Persian hogweed or by its native name Golpar is a species of hogweed, a perennial herbaceous plant in the carrot family Apiaceae. It grows wild in humid mountainous regions in Iran and some adjacent areas. Having been introduced in the 1830s, it has spread across Scandinavia. It is now very common in northern Norway, where one of its names is Tromsø palm. The plant has also been spotted in Sweden. In Finland, it has been declared an invasive species.

<i>Pimpinella</i> Genus of flowering plants in the celery family Apiaceae

Pimpinella is a plant genus in the family Apiaceae; it includes the aromatic herb anise (P. anisum).

Nastus fausti is a weevil that has been investigated as a potential biocontrol agent for giant hogweeds in Europe. During experimentation the weevils were found to not be specific against the target species and could not be recommended as a biocontrol agent.

<i>Seseli</i>

Seseli is a genus of herbaceous perennial plants in the family Apiaceae. They are sometimes woody at base with a conic taproot. Leaf blades are 1–3-pinnate or pinnately decompound. Umbels are compound, with bracts few or absent. Petals are white or yellow, and the fruit ovoid or ellipsoid.

<i>Heracleum sosnowskyi</i> Species of flowering plant

Heracleum sosnowskyi, or Sosnowsky's hogweed, is a monocarpic perennial herbaceous flowering plant in the carrot family Apiaceae. Its native range includes the central and eastern Caucasus regions of Eurasia and extends into the southern Caucasus region called Transcaucasia. The native ranges of Heracleum sosnowskyi and Heracleum mantegazzianum, a close relative, overlap in the Caucasus region. Sosnowsky's hogweed is now a common weed in the Baltic States, Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, and Poland.

Hogweed is a common name for several unrelated plants.

<i>Epermenia chaerophyllella</i> Species of moth

Epermenia chaerophyllella, also known as the garden lance-wing, is a moth of the family Epermeniidae first described by Johann August Ephraim Goeze in 1783. It is found in all of Europe and Asia Minor.

<i>Phytomyza spondylii</i> Species of fly

Phytomyza spondylii is a species of leaf miner fly in the family Agromyzidae. The larvae develop inside the leaves of its host plant, making a conspicuous whitish mine. Host plants include Astrantia bieberstedtii, red masterwort Astrantia carniolica, giant hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum, hogweed Heracleum sphondylium and wild parsnip Pastinaca sativa.

References

  1. 1 2 "Heracleum L. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  2. hogweed [ dead link ] at Oxford Online Dictionaries
  3. Bailey, L.H.; Bailey, E.Z.; the staff of the Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium (1976). Hortus third: A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada . New York: Macmillan. ISBN   978-0-02-505470-7.
  4. 1 2 "Heracleum L." Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 11 Oct 2011.
  5. 1 2 MacDonald, Francine; Anderson, Hayley (May 2012). "Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum): Best Management Practices in Ontario" (PDF). Ontario Invasive Plant Council, Peterborough, ON. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  6. Booy, Olaf; Cock, Matthew; Eckstein, Lutz; Hansen, Steen Ole; Hattendorf, Jan; Hüls, Jörg; Jahodová, Sárka; Krinke, Lucás; Marovoková, Lanka; Müllerová, Jana; Nentwig, Wolfgang; Nielsen, Charlotte; Otte, Annette; Pergl, Jan; Perglová, Irena; Priekule, Ilze; Pusek, Petr; Ravn, Hans Peter; Thiele, Jan; Trybush, Sviatlana; Wittenberg, Rüdiger (2005). The giant hogweed best practice manual: guidelines for the management and control of invasive weeds in Europe (PDF). Hørsholm: Center for Skov, Landskab og Planlægning/Københavns Universitet. ISBN   87-7903-209-5 . Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  7. "Heracleum sphondylium common names". EOL. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  8. "German-English Dictionary: cow parsnip". dict.cc. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  9. McGovern, Thomas W; Barkley, Theodore M (1998). "Botanical Dermatology". The Electronic Textbook of Dermatology. Internet Dermatology Society. 37 (5). Section Phytophotodermatitis. doi:10.1046/j.1365-4362.1998.00385.x. PMID   9620476. S2CID   221810453 . Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  10. Gander, Kashmira (June 18, 2018). "Giant Hogweed Warning: Plant That Can Cause Blindness, Burn Skin, Spreads Into New State". Newsweek. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  11. Patocka, Jiri; Cupalova, Klara (2017). "Giant Hogweed And Photodermatitis" (PDF). Military Medical Science Letters. 86 (3): 135–138. doi: 10.31482/mmsl.2017.021 . ISSN   0372-7025.
  12. Camm, E; Buck, HW; Mitchell, JC (1976). "Phytophotodermatitis from Heracleum mantegazzianum". Contact Dermatitis. 2 (2): 68–72. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.1976.tb02987.x. PMID   1017181. S2CID   70428677.
  13. Mitchell, John; Rook, Arthur (1979). Botanical Dermatology: Plants and Plant Products Injurious to the Skin. Vancouver: Greengrass. pp. 692–699.

Bibliography