The `Ferula' I could not find
- To: MEDIT-PLANTS@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: The `Ferula' I could not find
- From: R* F* D*
- Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999 09:52:04 -0400 (EDT)
To All:
This is the `Ferula' I could not remember the name of. As I now remember,
some of the germ plasm coming over as asafoetida can be this plant. Since
it is easy to propagate by seed, it is sometimes collected by mistake. This
is a plant we don't want here without strong controls to prevent escape,
since it is a nasty weed in many senses.
Heracleum mantegazzianum
Giant Hogweed, Wild Parsnip, Wild Rhubarb
This species is a native of the Caucasus and has been introduced into
horticulture. Dermatitis from
the plant was reported by Miescher and Burckhardt (1937) who suspected the
possibility of light
sensitisation. Kuske (1938, 1940) elicited bullous reactions 48 to 72 hours
after applying fresh plant
juice to the skin and following this with 40 minutes exposure to sunlight.
The subsequent English and
German literature concerning this plant was reviewed by Drever and Hunter
(1970) who reported
13 cases of dermatitis from Scotland. Additional reports were provided by
Jones and Russell
(1968), Smellie (1968), Kvicalova and Stava (1962), Camm et al. (1976).
Hinterman (1962) reported dermatitis from the plant in a dog. A woman had
phytophotodermatitis
of the skin of the jaw-line from contact with her cat which had been playing
with her garden
specimen of the plant (Champion, R.H. 1974, pers. comm. to Camm et al. 1976).
The plant was reported to be running slightly wild in central Europe (Schulz
and Spier 1951).
Naturalisation and spread of the plant has occurred in the United Kingdom in
the past sixty years
(Drever and Hunter 1970).
The plant was introduced to Kew Gardens, England for ornamental purposes but
has now become a
frank weed, usually found near water. The plant can grow to nearly 4m during
its growing season
and has large hollow stems. Those affected are most often fishermen and
bathers and children who
use the hollow stems for a telescope or pea-shooter and for blowing noises
as with a trumpet. The
hands are usually affected and also the back of those who have been hit with
the stem in children's
play. Cutting of plants for the intended purpose of eradication may result
in dispersal since the dried
stems and flower heads readily float downstream to reach the lower reaches
(Editorial 1970).
The botanical taxonomy of the plant is complex, in that two authored species
and a 'Kew species'
are known (Molho et al. 1971). The Causasian species has been divided into
three species
(Mandenova 1950). The plant yields 5-methoxypsoralen and 8-methoxypsoralen
(Nielsen 1970).
Chemovars i.e. biochemical varieties, within a species are reported (Molho
et al. 1971). The
essential oil from the plant contains chemicals (Jain 1969) which give rise
to a notion that allergic
contact dermatitis from the plant is a possibility.
Richard F. Dufresne
313 Spur Road
Greensboro, NC 27406
336-674-3105
