Weed Information: Heracleum mantegazzianum (hogweed, giant)
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Heracleum mantegazzianum (hogweed, giant)

Family: Apiaceae

Description

This is a federally listed noxious weed which was a popular ornamental during Victorian times. It can easily reach heights of 12 - 15 feet with umbels 4 - 6 feet broad. Many people suffer a dermal toxic reaction if they come in contact with this species. The resulting lesions are often permanently discolored purplish or black. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish this species from Heracleum maximum (= Heracleum lanatum) in the immature stages. Here`s the trick: the hairs on the LOWER leaf surface of Heracleum maximum are +/- 1mm long while those of Heracleum mantegazzianum are shorter (+/- .25mm long).

Characteristics

Flower Color
  • White
Inflorescence Type (How the flowers are arranged on the plant)
  • Compound umbel
Number of Petals
  • 5 petals
Petal Separation
  • Completely free to base
Petal Tip
  • Bilobed
  • Rounded
Flower Symmetry
  • Flowers regular
  • Flowers slightly irregular
Flower Length (Head length in the Asteraceae)
  • 3 mm (.12 inch)
  • 4 mm (.16 inch)
  • 5 mm (.20 inch)
  • 6 mm (.24 inch)
  • 7 mm (.28 inch)
Flower Width (Head width in the Asteraceae)
  • 5 mm (.20 inch)
  • 6 mm (.24 inch)
  • 7 mm (.28 inch)
  • 8 mm (.32 inch)
  • 9 mm (.36 inch)
  • 1.0 cm (.40 inch)
  • 1.5 cm (.60 inch)
  • 2.0 cm (.80 inch)
Number of Sepals
  • sepals lacking
  • 5 sepals
Sepal Separation
  • United at base < 25% length
Sepal Tip
  • Pointed
Flower Sex
  • Bisexual (perfect)
Number of Styles
  • 2 styles
Number of Stamens
  • 5 stamens
Stamens Attached to the Petals
  • Stamens NOT attached to the petals
Stamens Connate (united)
  • Filaments or anthers NOT united

Carpel Separation
  • Carpels united (or one)
Number of Carpels
  • 2 carpels
Ovary Position
  • Inferior (epigynous)
Fruit Type
  • Schizocarp
Fruit Length at Maturity
  • 7 mm (.28 inch)
  • 8 mm (.32 inch)
  • 9 mm (.36 inch)
  • 1.0 cm (.40 inch)
  • 1.5 cm (.60 inch)
Fruit Width at Maturity
  • 5 mm (.20 inch)
  • 6 mm (.24 inch)
  • 7 mm (.28 inch)
  • 8 mm (.32 inch)
  • 9 mm (.36 inch)
Burs
  • Fruit or seed NOT bur-like

Leaf Arrangement
  • Alternate
Leaf Type
  • Palmately dissected
  • Pinnately dissected
  • Trifoliolate (3 leaflets)
Stipules
  • Lacking
Tendrils
  • Tendrils absent
Venation
  • Palmate
Petiole (leaf stem) Blade Ratio
  • Petiole 25% - 75% total length
Leaf Length (blade PLUS petiole)
  • 2 - 4 dm (8.0 - 16.0 inches)
  • 4 - 6 dm (1.3 - 2.0 feet)
  • > 6 dm (> 2.0 feet)
Leaf Width
  • 2 - 4 dm (8.0 - 16.0 inches)
  • > 4 dm (>1.3 feet)
Leaf Shape (simple leaves only)
  • Lyrate
Leaf or Leaflet Margin
  • Dentate
  • Lobed
  • Parted
Succulence
  • Succulent
  • Not succulent
Leaf or Leaflet Blade Base
  • Acuminate (attenuate)
  • Clasping
  • Cordate
  • Truncate
Leaf or Leaflet Tip
  • Acuminate (attenuate)
  • Acute
Leaf or Leaflet Blade Surface
  • Puberulent
  • Pubescent
  • Tomentose

Milky Juice
  • Juice NOT milky (watery)
Woodiness
  • Herbaceous
Spines or Thorns
  • Spines or Thorns ABSENT
Aromatic (vegetative structures)
  • Aromatic
Life Cycle
  • Perennial
Growth Habit (while flowering)
  • Erect, columnar (narrow)
Plant Height at Maturity
  • 8 - 10 dm (2.6 - 3.3 feet)
  • 1 - 1.5 meters (3.3 - 5.0 feet)
  • 1.5 - 2.0 meters (5.0 - 6.6 feet)
  • 2 - 2.5 meters (6.6 - 8.3 feet)
  • 2.5 - 5 meters (8.3 - 16.6 feet)
Wind Dissemination
  • Not wind disseminated
  • Fruit, seed, or spore wind borne
Moisture Regime
  • Seasonally saturated
  • Mesic
Chlorophyll
  • Present

Stem Cross Section
  • Hollow (flowering stem at maturity)
  • Ridged
  • Round
Flowering Stem Leaves
  • Stem leaves greatly reduced
  • Stem uniformly leafy
Main Stem Branches
  • Main stem branched

Root or Vegetative Propagule
  • Fibrous
  • Tap Root

US State
  • Connecticut
  • Illinois
  • Massachusetts
  • Maine
  • Michigan
  • New York
  • Pennsylvania
  • Oregon
  • Washington
Canadian Province or Territory
  • British Columbia
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario

  • Aquatic and Riparian Plants of the West, 2003 (ISBN# 1-879906-59-7) See page: 156
  • The Biology of Canadian Weeds: Canadian Journal of Plant Science Vol86 Pg.569
  • Ontario Weeds, 1992 Agdex 640, Publication #505 See page: 157
  • Weeds of the Northeast, 1997 Cornell University ISBN# 0-8014-8334-4 See page: 98,364
  • Listed as a `Weed` by the Biota of North America Program, 2008 x
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