Hogweed
Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium), also known as Cow Parsnip, is a common plant in verges and grassy areas. The plant produces white flowers in late spring and summer and there is a second growth of new leaves in the autumn. Hogweed is not to be confused with Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum- see section on Plant Toxicity), which is a rare plant that grows very tall (up to 2 metres high) and causes a nasty skin reaction in people that handle it. At around I metre high, Hogweed is shorter
