Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), a tall invasive flowering plant in the UK, growing along a field edge

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Giant hogweed is a non-native invasive plant in the UK. It was first introduced to the UK as an ornamental in the 19th century where it escaped and naturalised in the wild. It can now be found throughout much of the UK, especially colonising river banks where its seeds are transported by the sap of giant hogweed can cause burns. It contains furocoumarin, which makes skin extremely sensitive to sunlight (phytophotodermatitis). If the sap gets onto your skin, then you are exposed to sun, your skin can blister badly and blistering can recur over months and even years. This is known as phytotoxicity.

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Size: 5131px × 3421px
Location: Near the Wey and Arun Canal, West Sussex, England, UK
Photo credit: © Gillian Pullinger / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -native, britain, burns, edge, england, field, flower, flowering, giant, heracleum, hogweed, invasive, kingdom, mantegazzianum, naturalised, perennial, phytotoxic, phytotoxicity, plant, plants, sussex, tall, uk, united, weed, west, white