FYI - Wild Parsnip!

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I remember being about ten,
at summer camp,
and learning about
"poison parsnip".

One of the counselors peeled back a large bandage and showed us her NASTY blister.
She told us that if we got the sap of the plant on our skin, we would get a blister/burn just like hers...and if it popped, that juice inside the blister would cause more blisters.

The blisters could scar your skin...
Great visual and we stayed away from it!

From Wikipedia --
While the root of the parsnip is edible, handling the shoots and leaves of the plant requires caution as the sap is toxic.[32] Like many other members of the family Apiaceae, the parsnip contains furanocoumarin, a photosensitive chemical that causes a condition known as phytophotodermatitis.[32] The condition is a type of chemical burn rather than an allergic reaction, and is similar to the rash caused by poison ivy. Symptoms include redness, burning, and blisters. Afflicted areas can remain discolored for up to two years.[33] Although there have been some reports of gardeners experiencing toxic symptoms after coming into contact with foliage,[34] these have been small in number compared to the number of people that grow the crop. The problem is most likely to occur on a sunny day when gathering foliage or pulling up old plants that have gone to seed. The symptoms have mostly been mild to moderate.[35] The toxic properties of parsnip extracts are resistant to heating, or a storage period of several months. Toxic symptoms can also affect livestock and poultry in parts of their bodies where their skin is exposed.[36]

Yippee - right?
Why am I telling you about this?
Becasue I am seeing it EVERYWHERE in Wisconsin this summer -- road sides, in the country, it is simply crazy. Make this a science lessons for your kiddos -- so they know what it is and to avoid it.  Make it so common to them that it is as familiar as the "Leaves of three, let it be".
 
Blister free blessings -
Dannelle

Comments

  1. KateJune 25, 2013 at 10:16 AM

    We have this in our yard, so I started mowing a large section that is a little closer to the house, so we don't have an "accidental run in." Nasty stuff... and the majority of Wisconsinites have never even heard of it. In fact, someone I was talking with thought it was Queen Anne's Lace! Yikes.... wouldn't want to pick a bouquet of Wild Parsnips to bring home to mom.

    ReplyDelete

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