University
of Illinois Extension
Identify, Avoid, and Manage Troublesome Wild Parsnip
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[June 10, 2023]
I love parsnips. Often parsnips, large white
carrot-like root vegetables, are substituted for celery in my soups
and stews. The cultivated parsnip that we eat heralds from the
appropriately named wild parsnip, Pastinaca sativa. |
However,
wild parsnip is a plant to avoid. The wild version of cultivated
parsnip can leave those who encounter it with burn-like blisters on
their skin. Severe cases appear somewhat gruesome, though according
to some, it is still not as bad as the itch of poison ivy.
Standing next to wild parsnip will not give you burning blisters. A
person must make skin contact with the sap of the plant from a
broken leaf or stem. The combination of sap on your skin and
exposure to UV light causes phytophotodermatitis: an interaction
between plants (phyto) and light (photo) that induce skin (derm)
inflammation (itis). The effects are a severe sunburn.
Wild parsnip is closely related to Queen Anne's lace and has a
similar umbrella-shaped flower, though wild parsnip's flower color
is yellow, and it blooms earlier in the summer. Wild parsnip's stem
is slightly hairy, grooved, and 2 to 5 feet tall. Leaves are coarse,
with saw-toothed edges. Plants can be found throughout Illinois
invading prairies, oak savannas, and fens, as well as roadsides, old
fields, and pastures.
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Since the actual hazard lies in the sap of wild
parsnip, exposure can be mitigated by wearing gloves, long pants,
and long-sleeved shirts when working outside, in fields, or in
overgrown areas that contain this plant. Plan weeding activities for
later in the evening during low levels of sunlight to avoid
activating the blistering process. Wet sap is required to cause
injury. Wild parsnip that has been cut and allowed to dry is safer
to handle. Do not wait too long or forget to dispose of cut wild
parsnip as seed can develop while the cut plant lays on the ground.
Avoid using string trimmers where you may encounter wild parsnip.
The pulverizing, flinging action of string trimmers sprays plant
parts and juices everywhere. Operators are often left speckled with
blisters and red rashes. [to top of second
column] |
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If you are exposed to wild
parsnip sap, wash the area that came in contact immediately. If
you are too late and begin to feel the burn of wild parsnip sap,
contact a physician for wound care recommendations.
Check landscapes periodically for the presence of
wild parsnip. Just because it isn't there now, does not mean it
won't germinate next week.
Mechanically control wild parsnip by cutting the root 1 to 2 inches
below the soil surface. Brush-cutters can be used for large
populations before the seed sets. When mowing dense stands of wild
parsnip, eye protection and possibly a mask can protect your eyes
and lungs. For smaller populations, cut off the flowering heads and
dispose in a landfill.
The little rosette of young wild parsnip can be spot treated with
broad spectrum or broad-leaf specific herbicides. Contact your local
Extension office for recommended active ingredients.
Since parsnip is a biennial, all control activities should be done
before it starts flowering or at least during the early flower
stage. The basal rosettes can also be controlled in the fall to
prevent flowering the next year.
For more research-based information on wild parsnip, connect with
your local Illinois Extension county office at go.illinois.edu/ExtensionOffice.
Download an infosheet about Wild Parsnip
https://extension.illinois.edu/
sites/default/files/wild_parsnip.pdf
[SOURCE: Christopher Enroth,
Horticulture Educator, University of Illinois Extension]
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