Landscape Architect Articles

Hogweed Infestation in Illinois08-30-06 | News

Hogweed Infestation in Illinois

The bicycle in the foreground gives scale to the hogweed plant which can grow to heights of 15-feet with leaves that extend up to 5-feet. State officials in Illinois fear that the plant may have found its way into their region.

State agriculture officials in Illinois are ready to spring into action if reports of a hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) infestation in the state are confirmed.

If confirmed, Illinois would be the 15th state to have the noxious weed. Ohio and Pennsylvania have used federal, state and local resources to try and control the spread of the plant.

If it weren?EUR??,,????'???t bad enough that the weed is invasive, the Hogweed?EUR??,,????'???s sap is poisonous and can cause painful blisters, itching and scarring when exposed to skin and sunlight.

The sap from the stem of the hogweed plant can cause painful blisters, itching and scarring, as shown here.

State officials say that they would likely make a plan for spraying the weeds with chemicals and warn the public by setting up a hotline to report sightings of the plant. The sightings in Illinois have alarmed officials because they come from trained horticulturists.

?EUR??,,????'??If it?EUR??,,????'???s true, and the odds are probably that it could be, then we have to act quickly,?EUR??,,????'?? said Kelly Cook, an official with the Illinois Cooperative Agriculture Pest Survey. ?EUR??,,????'??It would be a coordinated effort.?EUR??,,????'??

Seeds are the primary way the hogweed proliferates. Although it is against the law to transport and ?EUR??,,????'??propagate?EUR??,,????'?? hogweed, federal agriculture officials suspect gardeners cut it up and move it.

Source: The Chicago Tribune