Risky giant hogweed found in Michigan

According to a Monday news release from health officials, the plant was found in Pennfield Township.

Hogweed sap is activated by sunlight, so anyone who has come in contact with the plant is advised to protect the exposed areas from sunlight for several days to help reduce blistering.

One of nature’s nastiest creations – the giant hogweed plant – is popping up across the country this summer and it’s wreaking a lot of havoc. If you get any of it in your eye and it could lead to permanent blindness.

Giant Hogweed – from Calhoun County Health Dept.

“Sometimes that can take 24 [to] 48 hours to develop”, Makoski told WWMT.com. The Calhoun County Public Health Department can be reached at 969-6341.

The Hogweed – or Heracleum mantegazzianum, for you botanists – is not native to the Great Lakes State, having been introduced here from Central Asia in the 1900s to display in arboretums and gardens.

A member of the carrot family, this invasive species can grow from 6-18 feet tall, with leaves spanning up to 5 feet. Queen Anne’s Lace has a solid green stem and a small, red flower in the center of the plant, while Cow Parsnip has a solid green, ridged stem with white hairs.

The plant “can be hard for the outdoor enthusiast to identify”, the Michigan State University Extension website says, but “with very limited distribution in Michigan, a vigorous tramp through the woods or wetlands is not likely to expose anyone to hogweed”.

In the event of bare skin contact with the hogweed, health officials advise washing skin, and flushing eyes with water, then seeking professional medical attention as quickly as possible.