This plant is listed as invasive by 3 States-

This plant is listed as invasive by 3 States and noxious by 1 State. Coming in contact with this exotic alien will probably be far worse for you than any contact with Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, or Poison Sumac. I am finding this plant growing rampantly on roadsides throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. I am aghast. Please become familiar with this plant. Learn how to identify it and if at all possible, learn how to remove it safely by avoiding all contact with it during the process. Here are a few photos but I'll add more later-

photo #2

photo #3

More close ups of Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) later.

What is the name of this plant? I will have to keep a look out for it in my travels..
Does it secrete an oil that will give one an allergic reaction?

thanks for this info Equil

http://www.wnrmag.com/stories/1999/jun99/parsnip.htm

http://www.wnrmag.com/stories/2000/jun00/parsnip.htm

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/veg/plants/wildparsnip.htm

I have it growing in one of my flower beds right now.

It grows all over on the side of roads around here.

I plan to dig out before it goes to seed...Just not looking forward to wearing long pants, long sleeves and gloves right now. I knew I needed to dig it up earlier this spring - but it was right next to some baby cupplants that I didn't want to distrub. (I think the cupplants have grown enough now that they can tolerant some disturbance.)

Close up photos-

Another close up-

And another-

Leaves-

What reactions does it give to us? I do fine with poision Ivy and oak...?

Is wild parnsip the plant that can give you warts that turn into cancer? (if its not WP - what is that plant?)

I have some WP growing and I am afraid to touch it. I am very allergic to PI and I don't need any MORE cancer...

any volunteers to remove it.

(my brother's are visiting next weekend, perhaps I can con them into removing it for me.)

I also read something to that effect but I do not recall if it was Wild Parsnip. Interestingly enough, there are allegedly a few plants that are carcinogenic. I got nailed by WP a few years ago and it took my cheek months to heal. No warts but horrible blisters and flaking flesh and it was as if I had leprosy. I also accidentally touched a small part of my ear. Long story but were talking a touch of a part of my finger to my cheek and to my ear to get hair out of my face while I worked and I looked as if I had flesh eating bacteria. People started asking questions as it got progressively worse before it got better. It was horrible having it on my cheek for months and months.

If your brothers don't come down by you and if you can't get anyone to remove it for you, I will find a way to drive down and get it out for you because I know you are somewhere in Illinois so you can't be that horribly far away from me. I use big hefty garbage bags and rose gloves that go up to my elbows that get pitched in the bag with the plant when I am finished using them to get rid of the WP. I can tell you that you don't want to even come in contact with any thing that came in contact with the plant.

According to Don Kurz in "Missouri Wildflowers":

"The sap from this plant reacts with sunlight to form a toxin and can cause a skin rash similar to that of poison ivy on some individuals, with the affected area remaining reddened for several months. The fleshy taproots from the first year reportedly can be excellent when eaten raw or as a cooked vegetable."

Be careful not to confuse this plant with Prairie Parsnip (Polytainia nuttallii).

Here's a link: http://www.missouriplants.com/Yellowalt/Polytaenia_nuttallii_page.html

RW

The photo of the pressed leaves of Polytainia nuttallii at the site you posted a link to is excellent. Great way to differentiate between the two species as the leaves of Pastinaca sativa are quite different.

joe, did your brothers come remove it? If not, I will. You're only an hour away.

Thank you terryr... but my brothers are coming this weekend the 15 th.

My plan is to try and claim ignorance. My brother who is a wildlife biologist/habitat dude when getting a tour of landscape...may offer to remove it for me, with out me having to ask... if he doesn't offer, then I will ask.

he has poison ivy all the time - so whats a few more itches - eh?

LOL, brothers!

I wish the state department of transportation would quit spreading this around. It pops up where ever they bring in gravel for road work. They are also responsible for the purple loosestrife in my ditch. They go along and spray the native viburnums and chew up the little trees beside their right of way (notice I said beside), but they let the wild parsnip and loosestrife bloom away.

This plant grows by the thousands in central MO. I have been battling it for years in our yarden and nearby fields. So far the best results have been with Tordon mixed 50/50 with diesel fuel and poured on the stumps when I cut them off. I understand the seeds are viable for up to 20 years. They must be more or less perennial here because the plants will be in exactly the same place for years if left alone. And the root systems on those big plants are HUGE, like shrub or tree roots.

Thanks for the information. I think now I know where some of our little grandson's skin problems come from. I'll be sure our son and DIL see this material tomorrow.

I see something like this growing near the street where I walk home. I thought it was yarrow, and I'd assumed it was planted among the hostas and lilies.