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Wednesday, July 6, 2011
A monster plant with white flowers in the form of an umbrella and the sap can cause severe burns and possible blindness is rearing its head this summer dangerous.
In the Capital Region, the State Department team of Environmental Conservation, with the help of homeowners, they make giant hogweed plants in Albany and Rensselaer counties are cut or sprayed, said Naja Kraus the giant department program coordinator parsley.
The plant, once used as an ornamental in gardens in the backyard, it is believed that is spreading throughout the state. December is getting more calls on your telephone line and the public to learn about its dangers.
The threat is more serious than the rash caused by poison ivy and poison oak, Kraus said Tuesday.
"It's different because (giant hogweed) changes in the skin, making it more susceptible to sun for several years," he said. It is a condition known as photo-dermatitis sensitivity to sunlight.
"If the sap gets on your skin and the sun shines on your skin, especially if moisture like sweat - and you need the sun - it makes the skin can not protect themselves from sunlight, and can be reached by third degree burns and blisters, "said Kraus.
If the sap comes into contact with the eyes may cause irritation of the eyes and "can lead to blindness," he said. December officials know of no case in the state where blindness is linked to the plant, he said.
"The big difference is poison ivy rashes are itchy and irritating, but a giant hogweed is a burn," he said.
Blisters are painful for a while and can result in permanent scarring areas, mainly in the arms and legs, exposed body. December's website, which has information and pictures of the plant, said that contact between the skin and the sap is produced, "either through touching the hairs on the stem or break the stems or leaves."
Native to the region of the Caucasus Mountains between the Black and Caspian seas, the plant can be identified by the giant leaves that produce white flowers are in bloom at this time - from late June to mid July.
The DEC is in its fourth year of a control program from 2008 with a federal grant of $ 40,000. The funds supported the program last year and this year six teams a total of 14 people who will visit most of the 944 sites in the state are $ 763,000 in incentive funds, said Kraus. There is no funding for next year.
Giant hogweed has been around for 100 years, brought to this country in the 20th century, "because it is a striking ornamental plant. It can grow to 14 feet high," and was used "as a masterpiece of garden flowers .. ., "Kraus said. The head of the flower can be 21 / 2 feet wide and shaped like an umbrella. Once in the United States, the seeds were distributed to botanical gardens and home gardens.
In Altamont, a giant hogweed was planted in the garden of a house, and when new owners bought the house, one of them burned. He informed the State Department of Agriculture and Markets that controlled the first year. Last year was in December, and since then, the homeowner "is doing a great job" to fight it, said Kraus. A team of December is still controlling it.
The first year, 30 large plants with large flower heads were removed, he said. Last year, between 20 and 30 smaller plants, but by spraying, not flowers. Plants can be attacked, either by digging roots or spraying herbicides. What makes each year are the new plants from seeds, which are on the ground. Could be a number of years before all the seeds germinate, Kraus said.
The other local plant to be controlled in a home in Averill Park. Last year, the teams worked in December a plant with large flowers and a number of smaller plants, and this year is being observed. "We have no idea how it got there," said Kraus.
"It takes each plant three or four years to obtain enough energy in their roots to flower, and not enough time to cut through the roots or spray before going to flourish," he said.
Once the flowers, the matrices of each plant, but the younger ones are growing from seed, which is located within 30 meters from the parent plant.
In Salem, Washington County, less than 20 plants have been reported in a house, but the owner refuses to December is over, said Kraus.
Sightings of the plant are more common in central and western parts of the state where large sites of five hectares or more in the fields or along river banks can be found, he said.
Stems 2 to 4 inches of the plant are hollow, and the line received a report that children were using the stems of the telescopes, put them in sight, said Kraus.
If giant hogweed is not enough to find, try another dangerous plant called wild parsnip, which is found along roadsides and in fields. This plant also has the "same ability to cause burns" and is common around the Capital Region.
Arriving at 454-5431 or cdemare@timesunion.com Demare.
To report a giant hogweed plant, call the hotline to December (845) 256-3111.
If you come into contact with what appears to be a giant hogweed plant:
Do not:
• touch it with bare skin
• Touch bare skin covered with sap gloves
• Use a weed whacker or brush cutter, SAP can splash
• Touch your eyes if you come in contact with SAP
Make:
• Wash the affected area with soap and cold water quickly
• Wash your eyes if the sap gets on them and wear sunglasses
• See a doctor if the painful blistering form within 48 hours
• Expect long-term sensitivity to sunlight in the affected areas
In the Capital Region, the State Department team of Environmental Conservation, with the help of homeowners, they make giant hogweed plants in Albany and Rensselaer counties are cut or sprayed, said Naja Kraus the giant department program coordinator parsley.
The plant, once used as an ornamental in gardens in the backyard, it is believed that is spreading throughout the state. December is getting more calls on your telephone line and the public to learn about its dangers.
The threat is more serious than the rash caused by poison ivy and poison oak, Kraus said Tuesday.
"It's different because (giant hogweed) changes in the skin, making it more susceptible to sun for several years," he said. It is a condition known as photo-dermatitis sensitivity to sunlight.
"If the sap gets on your skin and the sun shines on your skin, especially if moisture like sweat - and you need the sun - it makes the skin can not protect themselves from sunlight, and can be reached by third degree burns and blisters, "said Kraus.
If the sap comes into contact with the eyes may cause irritation of the eyes and "can lead to blindness," he said. December officials know of no case in the state where blindness is linked to the plant, he said.
"The big difference is poison ivy rashes are itchy and irritating, but a giant hogweed is a burn," he said.
Blisters are painful for a while and can result in permanent scarring areas, mainly in the arms and legs, exposed body. December's website, which has information and pictures of the plant, said that contact between the skin and the sap is produced, "either through touching the hairs on the stem or break the stems or leaves."
Native to the region of the Caucasus Mountains between the Black and Caspian seas, the plant can be identified by the giant leaves that produce white flowers are in bloom at this time - from late June to mid July.
The DEC is in its fourth year of a control program from 2008 with a federal grant of $ 40,000. The funds supported the program last year and this year six teams a total of 14 people who will visit most of the 944 sites in the state are $ 763,000 in incentive funds, said Kraus. There is no funding for next year.
Giant hogweed has been around for 100 years, brought to this country in the 20th century, "because it is a striking ornamental plant. It can grow to 14 feet high," and was used "as a masterpiece of garden flowers .. ., "Kraus said. The head of the flower can be 21 / 2 feet wide and shaped like an umbrella. Once in the United States, the seeds were distributed to botanical gardens and home gardens.
In Altamont, a giant hogweed was planted in the garden of a house, and when new owners bought the house, one of them burned. He informed the State Department of Agriculture and Markets that controlled the first year. Last year was in December, and since then, the homeowner "is doing a great job" to fight it, said Kraus. A team of December is still controlling it.
The first year, 30 large plants with large flower heads were removed, he said. Last year, between 20 and 30 smaller plants, but by spraying, not flowers. Plants can be attacked, either by digging roots or spraying herbicides. What makes each year are the new plants from seeds, which are on the ground. Could be a number of years before all the seeds germinate, Kraus said.
The other local plant to be controlled in a home in Averill Park. Last year, the teams worked in December a plant with large flowers and a number of smaller plants, and this year is being observed. "We have no idea how it got there," said Kraus.
"It takes each plant three or four years to obtain enough energy in their roots to flower, and not enough time to cut through the roots or spray before going to flourish," he said.
Once the flowers, the matrices of each plant, but the younger ones are growing from seed, which is located within 30 meters from the parent plant.
In Salem, Washington County, less than 20 plants have been reported in a house, but the owner refuses to December is over, said Kraus.
Sightings of the plant are more common in central and western parts of the state where large sites of five hectares or more in the fields or along river banks can be found, he said.
Stems 2 to 4 inches of the plant are hollow, and the line received a report that children were using the stems of the telescopes, put them in sight, said Kraus.
If giant hogweed is not enough to find, try another dangerous plant called wild parsnip, which is found along roadsides and in fields. This plant also has the "same ability to cause burns" and is common around the Capital Region.
Arriving at 454-5431 or cdemare@timesunion.com Demare.
To report a giant hogweed plant, call the hotline to December (845) 256-3111.
If you come into contact with what appears to be a giant hogweed plant:
Do not:
• touch it with bare skin
• Touch bare skin covered with sap gloves
• Use a weed whacker or brush cutter, SAP can splash
• Touch your eyes if you come in contact with SAP
Make:
• Wash the affected area with soap and cold water quickly
• Wash your eyes if the sap gets on them and wear sunglasses
• See a doctor if the painful blistering form within 48 hours
• Expect long-term sensitivity to sunlight in the affected areas
Labels: International
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