hogweed

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Eurasian cow-parsnip
• European cow-parsnip
• eltrot
• meadow cow-parsnip
• Cow Parsnip
• Hogweed
• Keck
• Kecks
• cow-parsnip
• meadow-parsnip
• Eurasian cow parsnip
• common hogweed
• meadow cow parsnip

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pastinaca sphondylium
• Sphondylium vulgare

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified within the order Apiales and the family Apiaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identification is placed within the genus Heracleum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several regions in Northern Europe. In the northernmost reaches of the continent, it can be found growing in Iceland and Finland. Its presence also extends to the islands of the Faroe Islands and Great Britain. Additionally, the species is well-documented within the borders of Denmark. Together, these locations highlight the plant's preference for northern maritime and continental climates.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Heracleum sphondylium is characterized by its presence in diverse environments, specifically flourishing within forest edges, meadows, and mountainous regions. This species occupies a distinct altitudinal niche, with its elevational range spanning from a minimum of 2100 m AMSL to a maximum of 3400 m AMSL. Furthermore, regarding its subterranean biological associations, the plant does not exhibit mycorrhizal relationships.

Elevational range max:

3400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

2100 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest edges, meadows, mountains

Mycorrhiza :

no

Life history

The life history of Heracleum sphondylium is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, it survives unfavorable periods by protecting its perenn Perennating buds at the soil surface, often beneath a layer of leaf litter or soil. The species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage during dormant periods to conserve resources. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and a hemicryptophytic life form enables the plant to establish a robust presence in its habitat, cycling through phases of vegetative growth and seasonal senescence.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Heracleum sphondylium is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a parasite, maintaining an independent lifestyle. This terrestrial species grows in non-aquatic environments and is not an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variation in size, with a minimum height of 0.5 m, a mean height of approximately 1.231 m, and a maximum height reaching up to 2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

1.231 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Heracleum sphondylium is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy typical of many temperate herbaceous plants that optimizes carbon fixation under moderate light and temperature conditions. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying entirely on soil-derived nutrients and organic matter rather than the capture of prey. Its leaf morphology is substantial, with an average leaf size of approximately 819.51 cm² and individual leaf lengths reaching a maximum of 12 cm. These physical dimensions are closely linked to its resource acquisition efficiency, as evidenced by a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 221.72 cm²/g, indicating a specific balance between leaf biomass investment and the surface area available for light interception and gas exchange.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf size mean:

819.50667 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

221.72 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Heracleum sphondylium is primarily driven by sexual processes, as asexual reproduction is notably absent in this species. The flowering period typically commences in June and extends through August. The plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects, with bees being a significant contributor to the pollination process. While successful pollination leads to the development of fruit, which has a mean length of 0.8 cm, the plant is also capable of self-fertilization. The resulting seeds are characterized by a consistent length of 8 mm and a mean mass of approximately 0.00624 g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.00516 g to a maximum of 0.01215 g. Following maturation, the plant employs an unspecialized dispersal syndrome to distribute its seeds.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length mean:

0.8 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

8 mm

Seed mass max:

0.01215 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0062421785 g

Seed mass min:

0.00516 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Heracleum sphondylium has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Coumarins, Fatty acids, Flavonoids, Iridoids, Phytosterols.

Coumarins

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Fatty acids

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Iridoids

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Phytosterols

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Terpenoids

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

XANTHOTOXIN

1. Dr. Duke

pimpinellin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Heracleum sphondylium has 45 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiaflatoxin, Antibacterial, Antidermatitic, Antifeedant, Antihistaminic.

Antiaflatoxin

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Antidermatitic

1. Dr. Duke

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke

Antihistaminic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antikeratotic

1. Dr. Duke

Antileucodermic

1. Dr. Duke

Antilymphomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antimicrobial

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Heracleum sphondylium has 8 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, HeLa cell, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus.

Bacillus subtilis

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Escherichia coli

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Hela cell

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Food contamination

1. Food & function

Foodborne diseases

1. Food & function

Photosensitization

1. Journal of toxicology

Preparations

Heracleum sphondylium has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include HS-Ag system.

Hs-ag system

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)