A Giant Plant That Can Cause Blindness Was Spotted for the First Time in a New State

The presence of a hazardous invasive plant that can cause burns and blindness has been confirmed for the first time in Virginia, authorities said. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services confirmed on Tuesday that giant hogweed, a toxic weed that can grow up to 15 feet tall and resembles the less dangerous cow parsnip, was identified at a private home in Clarke County. Earlier this month, Virginia Department of Transportation employees who remembered hearing about the species years earlier reported a bunch growing in Frederick County, the Washington Post reports. Exposure to sap produced by the giant hogweed plant can, in conjunction with sunlight and moisture, cause serious skin and eye irritation, blistering, scarring and even blindness, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Scientists, however, are urging Virginia residents to stay calm. The hogweed in Clarke County, at least, seems to have been planted intentionally by a previous homeowner, according to Virginia Tech researchers, and is unlikely to spread. VDACS employees are working with the homeowner in an effort to eradicate the #GiantHogweed from the Clarke County site. https://t.co/xbXfRg6Ljm pic.twitter.com/56I1eBJamm — VDACS (@VaAgriculture) June 19, 2018 “It’s a dangerous plant but I’m not overly concerned about it. This seems to be an isolated incident,” Michael Flessner, an assistant professor and extension weed science ...
Source: TIME: Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Uncategorized onetime plants Source Type: news