Content
There are many plant species in the wild. Some of them are used by humans as food or for fodder for livestock. Another group of plants is called weeds... Among them there are varieties that are dangerous and harmless to humans. Such a plant as hogweed has been known to people for a long time. It was even grown on a plantation.
Unfortunately, in recent years, hogweed has become a vicious weed. But even this is not the worst thing, the fact is that there are poisonous varieties, the juice of which causes burns. In the article we will try to tell you how to treat burns from Sosnovsky's cow parsnip.
Description
Hogweed are monocarpic plants. Let's put it simply: as soon as the fruits ripen in the umbrellas, the plants die off. Many of our readers and users are interested in how a hogweed looks like. They grow depending on the species, under favorable conditions, up to 3, and others up to 6 meters in height. The hogweed has a powerful hollow stem with a slight ribbing. It has coarse hairs. Leaves begin towards the top of the plant. They are large, up to 50 cm in length, attached to scaly petioles. From above, the leaves are smooth, hairs are present only along the vein in the middle.
The root system is powerful, surviving even in drought. Although the cow parsnip reproduces by seeds ripening in a large umbrella.
In nature, there are 70 species of hogweed. This plant grows practically throughout Russia. Here it is, a blooming hogweed according to the photo and description, you cannot say that this is a harmful and poisonous plant. Plants look beautiful!
Types of hogweed
Poisonous varieties
Among the plants, there are species that are dangerous, since the hogweed is a poisonous plant.
- The most tenacious and dangerous is Sosnovsky's hogweed. It was brought to Russia as an ornamental plant. They grow up to three meters in height. White or pink flowers of Sosnovsky's hogweed are collected in large umbrellas.
- Another species - wild hogweed, growing up to 2 meters, has white flowers. This poisonous plant can be found in the southern regions of Russia.
- Mantegazzi's hogweed is a perennial that resembles a tree, because its height is almost 6 meters. This herb is hogweed grows in the Caucasus. Among the representatives of the family, this is the most poisonous plant.
Look at the photo below, it seems that the girl got into an enchanted forest with huge flowers.
Harmless species
In Russia, varieties of hogweed, harmless to humans, grow:
- Siberian hogweed is a low plant with light yellow leaves. The inflorescence is an umbrella with small white flowers. Ripe small fruits look like eggs.
- The dissected hogweed grows in the forests and steppes of Siberia. Favorite place - river banks. The flowers are white, the umbrellas are large. The leaves are large, consists of several plates, as if someone had cut them.
- The place of growth of the furry hogweed is the Caucasus, Crimea, Asia Minor. Plant height up to 150 cm.
After watching the video, you can find out the main differences between the Sosnovsky and Siberian hogweed:
Where does the name come from
In scientific language - Heracleum. This name was given to the plant by the ancient Roman scientist Pliny, after the name of the famous ancient hero. Indeed, if you carefully read the description and consider the photo of the natural giant, then it is somewhat similar to the mythical hero Hercules. Most likely, its power and vitality. After all, the hogweed plant grows 10 cm per day!
Russia has its own version of the origin of the name. These plants in Russia have been used for food since ancient times. All parts are non-poisonous weed species contain a large amount of nutrients. The plant contains a lot:
- carbohydrates;
- proteins;
- vitamins;
- microelements: zinc, copper, manganese, iron, calcium.
In the old days, the plant was called borscht. The roots were fermented, pickled and salted like cabbage. Basically, tasty nutritious borscht was cooked from plant parts. Many people in the years of severe trials owe their lives to hogweed. The cooked food tastes good.
In addition, the plant has medicinal properties:
- removed helminths from animals;
- added when preparing silage for farm animals;
- treated for psoriasis;
- treated purulent wounds, asthma and epilepsy;
- prepared drugs containing borscht juice were used for pain in the liver, for the treatment of Botkin's disease.
What is the danger of a poisonous hogweed
Despite the benefits, a poisonous plant can harm a person. The question of what is dangerous hogweed worries many people.
About Sosnovsky's hogweed:
Sosnovsky's poisonous cow parsnip affects the skin even through clothing, causing skin burns. The pattern is similar in appearance to sunburn. That is why a person must be able to distinguish between a useful and a poisonous plant.
Depending on contact with a poisonous plant, signs of damage can be presented:
- slight redness;
- blisters;
- deep ulcers.
See how the burns from Sosnovsky's cow parsnip look in the photo.
Itching and burning appear at the sites of the lesion. In addition, a person becomes lethargic, chills, dizzy and headaches. In case of severe poisoning, the temperature may rise. The most affected are fair-skinned and fair-haired people, as well as children.
Poisoning is often accompanied by allergies, runny nose, cough, bouts of bronchospasm, skin edema. Quincke's edema is not uncommon.
If the skin has been mildly affected, a pigmentation spot may remain. A severe burn is accompanied by the appearance of blisters and long non-healing wounds. If the skin lesion reaches 80%, then it is very difficult to save a person.
First aid
Most often, they begin to treat a burn with Sosnovsky's cow parsnip at home, providing first aid. What steps need to be taken:
- To remove essential oils, immediately wash the affected area with soapy water (laundry soap is best) or dilute with baking soda.
- You can use a solution of furacilin or a pink pale pink solution of potassium permanganate for washing.
- Lubricate the skin with any softening cream.
- Do not go outside for several days.
How to protect yourself and your family from the consequences of a meeting with a poisonous plant:
In the future, after contact with hogweed, burns are treated with lotions:
- from freshly brewed strong tea;
- decoction of oak bark. The crushed bark is poured with two glasses of water and boiled for 10 minutes.
- Decoction of burnet root. A large spoonful of the drug is poured into a glass of water, boiled for a third of an hour.
After this procedure, lubricate the affected area with lavender oil.
In case of serious burns, you need to contact the clinic. The attending physician will prescribe a treatment regimen and pharmaceutical preparations. Most often they are prescribed:
- Synthomycin ointment;
- Lifeguard gel;
- aerosol Panthenol;
- spray Olazol;
- Zinc ointment.
An open wound can get infected and treatment will be complicated.
Conclusion or how to avoid trouble
According to the characteristics, a burn can be obtained by contact with any part of Sosnovsky's hogweed. Today this dangerous weed has spread over large areas practically throughout Russia. You can't even understand right away that the poison of the plant has affected the skin or eyes. Symptoms appear later, especially if the person continues to be exposed to the sun.
Can the problem be avoided? Of course, if you follow the precautions:
- Firstly, children need to be explained that it is forbidden to touch unfamiliar plants, it is harmful even to play next to them.
- Secondly, learn to recognize useful and dangerous plants.
- Thirdly, if a dangerous weed has appeared on the site, it is necessary to take measures to destroy it. You need to work in cloudy weather in tight clothing and a mask.
- After weeding, change clothes and wash well with soap.
- Plant remains must be burned.
