Laura

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Laura
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This Oughta Be Good

Home & Garden > Cow Parsnip
 

Cow Parsnip

Along our stream and river we have these primitive-looking plants that can grow very large, and they look like something from the Jurassic Park movie.



They finally bloomed and I was able to identify it as cow parsnip.


I don't know if it's official, but I deem them to be invasive because they can really take over a riverbank.

Overall, it's not a very nice plant, although nature people have found uses for it.

Here are the good things:
The native Americans used the dried stems for drinking straws. The roots can be used to make a yellow dye. The leaves can be cooked in soups and stews and impart a celery flavor. An infusion made by soaking the flowers in cold water is supposed to work as a mosquito repellant. (See note.)

Here are the bad things:
The sap can cause skin blisters just like poison ivy, and you can become sensitized to it, so subsequent exposures of decreasing degree can cause worse symptoms. If you pick some of the plant for cooking the smell can be so strong you don't want it in your car. Once you get it home, it needs to be boiled in water and the water poured off several times to decrease the flavor intensity.

I say the bad outweighs the good, and we're hacking off the flowers and burning them before seeds can be formed.

Note: don't you wonder how someone figured this out in light of the fact that the sap is a skin irritant? Who would think to soak the flowers and rub that on their skin?

posted on July 25, 2011 11:18 AM ()

Comments:

The flower heads look like carrot flowers (Queen Anne's Lace). The leaves are very different.
comment by dragonflyby on July 26, 2011 8:09 AM ()
I think it's in the same family. The plants get huge, and look so primitive.
reply by troutbend on July 28, 2011 9:12 PM ()
I think I'll stick to my regular garden parsnips (which I love!).
comment by solitaire on July 26, 2011 5:55 AM ()
I'm a little curious about what the roots look like, and they dye capabilities, but am intimidated by the rest of the plant.
reply by troutbend on July 28, 2011 9:13 PM ()
I am so sensitive to poisen ivy that I don't want to meet up with this
one.
comment by elderjane on July 26, 2011 4:38 AM ()
Same with Mr. YouKnow. He got into a patch of poison ivy here a couple of years ago without realizing it, and had horrible blisters all over his legs. I must be immune to it for now because although I was careful, all the times I had to go back to spray it until it was finally gone, I had plenty of opportunity to get it on me. Sending hugs to you. I had to get up early to watch a beautiful buck with antlers eating leaves in the back yard.
reply by troutbend on July 26, 2011 5:21 AM ()
Never heard of this plant and guess I should be thankful. So you have your work cut out for you.
comment by tealstar on July 25, 2011 9:34 PM ()
It's like a science fiction tale, those plants are scheming against us and we have to get up early in the morning so our day is long enough to fight with them.
reply by troutbend on July 25, 2011 9:38 PM ()
What a bear. It is considered pernicious and invasive. Best to yank it out before it blooms and reseeds, or at least cut it down before it blooms if you can't get the roots unearthed.
comment by marta on July 25, 2011 8:39 PM ()
It showed up in the past couple years, and I don't know where it came from.
reply by troutbend on July 25, 2011 9:37 PM ()
You're putting me off any attempt to make natural dyes for my wool.
comment by nittineedles on July 25, 2011 2:57 PM ()
If I was going to make vegetable dyes, I'd stick to onion skins, but you're more adventuresome.
reply by troutbend on July 25, 2011 9:35 PM ()
Regarding your question--they probably got $2 million research money to do just that!!
comment by greatmartin on July 25, 2011 11:50 AM ()
reply by troutbend on July 25, 2011 9:33 PM ()
Interesting article there.There is always use for plants.They can do just about anything that you put your mind to it.Good post and thank you for sharing this.
comment by fredo on July 25, 2011 11:45 AM ()
Thanks, Fredo.
reply by troutbend on July 25, 2011 9:33 PM ()

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