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About Heracleum maximum (cow parsnip)

Heracleum maximum - cow parsnip - This herbaceous plant is a biennial or short-lived perennial. During the first year, several basal leaves are produced, but thereafter this plant bolts to produce flowering stalks about 4-8' tall. The central stem is light green, stout, terete with vertical ridges, more or less covered with spreading white hairs, and usually unbranched. Widely spreading alternate leaves are located primarily along the lower half of the central stem, becoming smaller in size above. The upper leaflet surface is grayish green, medium green, or yellowish green and rough-textured, while the lower leaflet surface is slightly more pale and hairy along the primary and secondary veins. The petioles of lower to middle leaves are 3-10" long, light green, hairy, and relatively stout (especially at the base). The petiole bases are partially enclosed by a pair of hairy membranous sheaths. These sheaths are light green, purplish green, or nearly white from abundant hairs. Upper leaves are usually simple, ternately lobed, and coarsely toothed; they are up to 4" long and similarly across. The lobes of upper leaves are lanceolate with acute tips. The upper leaves have petioles up to 2" long. Family: Apiaceae.