New York – State environmental officials are trying to nip a huge, dangerous plant in the bud.
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The giant hogweed, a monster plant with flowers the size of umbrellas and sap that causes blisters and blindness, is spreading across New York. The Department of Environmental Conservation is asking for help locating outbreaks.
The agency has set up a hotline at 845-256-3111 for people to call and report sightings of the invasive species. Callers are asked to provide photos and site information, but should avoid touching the plant.
This is DEC’s fourth year of controlling giant hogweed.
Six crews totaling 14 people will visit most of the 944 known giant hogweed sites. Sites with less than 400 plants will be controlled by hand cutting their roots; sites with more than 400 plants will be controlled with herbicide.
The plant has been spotted in Nassau and Putnam counties.
For more information see: http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/40961.html (by the way I have heard that this has been found in Pomona near Monsey)
Killer plants? What is this, a 1950’s horror movie? The last time I heard about a killer plant in New York was in “Little Shop of Horrors”, a Broadway show and later a movie.
Sounds spooky, can it be in any park? Kids are being taken to parks with camps and day camps, or they go hiking in the woods… Can it be anywhere? Can you please tell me where I can see a picture of this plant?
Are the leaves dangerous too or just the top flowers?
i’m hoping that the 10 million trees that are supposed to be planted or are being planted have nothing to do with this
There is a Genesis song on the Album Nursrey Cryme named The Return of the Giant Hogweed. As a Genesis fan myself, it is a really super awesome song, though clearly this is a public health dilemma.
They should rename it the Metzorah plant