There have been a few discovered down by Sudbury, about four hours south of
here. Apparently they are quite spectacular to see.
----- Original Message -----
From: Spiro
To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, July 16, 2010 8:06 PM
Subject: [BlindHandyMan] BAH Fw: [Sci-tech] Odd but crual Giant alien weed
(this is no joke
Hey Dale be careful!
To: 'Science, Technology, Mathematics, SCI-FI, and more.'
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2010 7:51 PM
Subject: [Sci-tech] Odd but crual Giant alien weed
Subject: [Members] Giant weed that can cause blindness popping up in
Ontario,B.C.
Officials scrambling to destroy the plant that can also cause burns and
permanent scarring.
Ciara Byrne
Globe and Mail, Jul. 09, 2010 5:26PM EDT
Toronto - The Canadian Press - A weed that can grow six metres tall, sprout
massive leaves and produce toxic,
blindness inducing sap is creeping into Ontario and parts of British Columbia.
Giant hogweed is easily identified by its teetering height. The leaves on the
weed fan out as much as 1.5 metres in diameter. It is also identified by its
tell-tale purple splotching on the stem and its umbrella-like cluster of
white flowers.
The plant, which was spotted around the coast in British Columbia in late
June,
and is known to flourish in the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Gulf Islands,
and
central to southern Vancouver Island, was discovered in the Renfrew County
area in
eastern Ontario on Thursday.
Jeff Muzzi, a manager of forestry services for Renfrew County, said officials
have destroyed the toxic vegetation, but he said the indomitable weed has
become a
problem for other places in the province, including southwestern Ontario.
"It's giant. It's not a misnomer," said Mr. Muzzi as he explained the wondrous
plant that seems to sprout in waste land areas, like ditches and vacant lots.
David Galbraith, head of science at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton
said
he was intrigued by the enormous plant - which is part of the carrot family -
when he saw a huge patch growing behind a gas station north of the Goderich,
Ont.
years ago.
"I thought it was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen, a great, big, huge
spectacular plant," said Mr. Galbraith as he explained its allure.
While it may look bewildering - almost begging to be examined by an amateur
botanist or a green thumb - the consequences of touching the weed could scar
a person for
life.
"The sap gets activated by sunlight, so once you get out on the sun it reacts
and can cause really bad burns, blistering and scars," said Mr. Muzzi.
It has also been known to cause temporary blindness or, in extreme cases,
permanent loss of eyesight, said Mr. Muzzi.
Within 24 to 48 hours after a person comes in contact with the sap, the
symptoms
will begin to appear, he added.
The challenge is trying to uproot and remove the invasive weed, a careful task
Mr. Muzzi tackled on Thursday.
"In the 35 degree heat I was snipping the flower heads off and I was wearing a
Tyvex suit and eye protection," said Mr. Muzzi.
It may seem extreme, but it's exactly what the Invasive Plants Council of
British Columbia recommends an expert wear when they're removing the
worrisome weed. The
council recommends waterproof gloves, a rubber raincoat and pants and eye
protection.
Gail Wallin, the executive director of the council, said the weed has become
dense and has recently spread on Vancouver Island.
"It's the one plant that in the last month I've received scads of calls," said
Ms. Wallin.
Its large roots make it difficult to dig up, and after it's removed some
experts
suggest mowing the patch it was nestled on for several years to eliminate
seeds
in the soil.
Given that giant hogweed can produce more than 100,000 seeds, there is the
potential that it will spread, said Mr. Muzzi.
Mr. Muzzi also said chemical herbicides can remove the plant, but since the
cosmetic pesticide ban came into effect in Ontario, people have become wary
of using any
chemicals on plants.
Experts believe it was brought from Asia to England, and then into North
America
as an ornamental plant, and quickly flourished in wet, moist areas without a
natural enemy.
Mr. Galbraith said the giant hogweed is an example of what happens when people
introduce foreign plants into a garden.
"As an example of this problem, it's a spectacular one," said Mr. Galbraith.
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