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Heracleum sphondylium - L.

Common Name Cow Parsnip, Eltrot
Family Apiaceae or Umbelliferae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards Many members of this genus, including many of the sub-species in this species[65], contain furanocoumarins. These have carcinogenic, mutagenic and phototoxic properties. See below for more details.
Habitats Moist grassland and ditches, by hedges and in woods[7, 17].
Range Europe, including Britain, south of latitude 61° to western N. Africa, west and northern Asia.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Heracleum sphondylium Cow Parsnip, Eltrot


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Rasbak
Heracleum sphondylium Cow Parsnip, Eltrot
http://www.commanster.eu/commanster.html

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Heracleum sphondylium is a BIENNIAL/PERENNIAL growing to 1.8 m (6ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to September, and the seeds ripen from July to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies. The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade; Meadow; Hedgerow;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Root  Shoots  Stem
Edible Uses: Sweetener

Stem and young shoots - raw or cooked[5, 7, 9, 17]. Used as a green vegetable, when harvested just as they are sprouting from the ground they are somewhat like asparagus in flavour[183]. The rind is somewhat acrid[115]. The leaf stems are tied in bundles and dried in the sun until they turn yellow[238]. A sweet substance resembling sugar forms on the dried stems and is considered to be a great delicacy[2, 115, 183, 238]. The peduncles, before flowering, can be eaten as a vegetable or added to soups[183]. Root - cooked. It is usually boiled[7].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antidiarrhoeal  Antipsoriatic  Aphrodisiac  Digestive  Expectorant  Sedative

The roots and the leaves are aphrodisiac, digestive, mildly expectorant and sedative[7, 9, 238]. The plant is little used in modern herbalism but has been employed in the treatment of laryngitis and bronchitis[9, 238]. A tincture made from the aerial parts of the plant has also been used to relieve general debility, though it is uncertain how it works[7, 238]. The plant is harvested as it comes into flower and can be dried for later use[9].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A very easily grown plant, succeeding in any ordinary garden soil[1, 238], doing best in moist soils or deep woodland[1]. Grows well in full sun or partial shade[238]. This species contains a large number of sub-species. Some, but by no means all of them, can cause various problems as detailed at the top of this record. Subspecies transylvanicum, pyrenaicum, montanum, orsinii and alpinum are distinctly phototoxic, subspecies sphondylium and sibiricum are not phototoxic whilst subspecies granatense and ternatum vary in their toxicity[65]. A good bee plant[108]. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a clumper with limited spread [1-2]. The root pattern is a tap root similar to a carrot going directly down [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - sow mid to late spring or early autumn in situ. Division in autumn.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Heracleum lallii Perennial0.0 -  LMHFSNM02 
Heracleum moellendorfii Perennial1.0 -  LMHFSNM10 
Heracleum pubescensDowny Cow-ParsnipBiennial/Perennial0.8 -  LMHFSNM20 
Heracleum sphondylium montanumCow ParsnipPerennial2.4 4-8  LMHFSNM322
Heracleum sphondylium sibiricum Biennial1.8 -  LMHFSNM32 
Heracleum tuberosum Perennial0.0 -  LMHFSNM20 
Heracleum wallichii Perennial0.6 -  LMHFSNM01 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Botanical References

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Links / References

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Readers comment

Sotar   Sun Jul 20 2008

It's worth noting that in Poland and further eastwards it used to be a very important green vegetable. People would cover it with water in large barrels and let it go sour. The fermentation process would take from 2 to several days, depending on the temperature. The product was something between sauerkraut and beer, being sour and containing small quantities of alcohol. That product was then used for making soups, that started the tradition of borshch.

Life and Health an article about how the plant is connected to borshch

   Feb 4 2011 12:00AM

This plant should also be searchable under the name hogweed or common hogweed. If you google cow parsnip the first results returned give you Heracleum maximum which is another species in the Heracleum genus.

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