Giant, Toxic Weed Poses Health Risk

[cali]

The giant hogweed can cause third degree burns and blindness -- and it's spreading fast.

By Emily Sohn
Tue Jul 19, 2011 07:48 AM ET

The sap of the giant hogweed is extremely poisonous, with the potential to cause burns and even blindness. Click to enlarge this image.
http://www.nyis.info/plants/GiantHogweed.aspx

It's exotic and beautiful, a 15-foot tall plant with clusters of dainty white flowers and human-sized leaves -- resembling, it is often said, Queen Anne's Lace on steroids.

But giant hogweed is an invasive species that is spreading around much of the northern United States. Even worse, its sap is extremely poisonous, with the potential to cause blistering burns and even blindness.

Now that the giant hogweed's flowering season is here again, experts are taking the opportunity to draw people's attention to the plant -- for the sake of human health as well as for the health of the environment.

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http://news.discovery.com/earth/giant-hogweed-invasive-plant-110719.html

[dionysus]

1. interesting. kick

[Shagbark Hickory]

2. There is no end to the noxious weeds we've spread all in the name of flowers.

Trashin' the planet.

[cali]

3. I love flowers. I don't even mind most weeds- as long as they're not in my garden

[Shagbark Hickory]

4. It sounds like you don't mind giant hogweed then.

I'm puzzled. :shrug:

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. It is, by now, compulsory to link these threads to 'The Return of the Giant Hogweed'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTuJQL8GBqY

[HopeHoops]

8. Ah yes, but the LIVE version (studeo) from 1972 is my favorite.

Gabriel is, well, "animated".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HDDCJ9lKKI

[tabasco]

6. Whoa. 3rd degree burns and blindness??

That's some fucked up shit.

[Maine_Nurse]

7. Mother nature is arming her troops!

She is gonna kick our ass with killer weeds and microbes. We're due for a herd thinning I guess.