Stay away from this plant.  You may end up with burns and painful blisters

Stay away from this plant. You may end up with burns and painful blisters

Mantegazzi’s hogweed is one of the most dangerous plants found in Europe. It secretes juice, which in contact with the skin leads to severe burns. The plant is similar to Sosnowski borscht, but they can be distinguished by the shape of the leaves.

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Mantegazzi borscht comes from the Caucasus. Otherwise it is also called mantegazi, giant or Caucasian borscht. It blooms from June to August, has thick stems and white flowers gathered in umbels. It is often confused with Sosnowski’s borscht, from which it is distinguished by its leaves. The leaves of Mantegazzi’s hogweed are pointed, in contrast to the blunt leaves of Sosnowski’s hogweed. In Poland, it is perceived as an alien species and combated.

Mantegazzi’s borscht. A cousin of Sosnowski’s borscht

When Caucasian borscht appeared in Poland in the 1970s, century, was considered decorative. However, it quickly turned out to be toxic. Both he and Sosnowski’s hogweed are very dangerous for humans and . Contact with Mantegazzi’s hogweed can result in serious skin lesions. The entire surface of the plant contains essential oils, which in contact with the body and light cause burns. Within a day, burning redness can turn into painful blisters filled with serous fluid. When they burst, they leave open wounds on the body. Only after 4 days the inflammation disappears.

Dangerous borscht. Even the smell is poisonous

If you notice Mantegasian borscht anywhere, contact the municipal police, fire brigade or the municipal Department of Environmental Protection. Eliminating the plant on your own can result in extensive burns. The most effective method is to dig the root collar, and only specialists can do this. Giant hogweed also emits an intense smell, which is why irritation of the eyes and respiratory system can be experienced even when staying next to the plant and not touching it. Wind contributes to the spread of hogweed pollen, which is as harmful as its juice.

Source: Gazeta

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