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Heracleum sphondylium
  • Cow Parsnip

a biennial or perennial member of the Heracleum genus in the family Umbelliferae.

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Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • permanent shade
    Permanent shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 5
    Zone 5
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Heracleum sphondylium has 0 edible uses listed
Heracleum sphondylium has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

Many members of this genus, including many of the sub-species in this species[1], contain furanocoumarins. These have carcinogenic, mutagenic and phototoxic properties. See below for more details.

Edible uses

Notes

Stem and young shoots - raw or cooked[2][3][4][5]. Used as a green vegetable, when harvested just as they are sprouting from the ground they are somewhat like asparagus in flavour[6]. The rind is somewhat acrid[7].

The leaf stems are tied in bundles and dried in the sun until they turn yellow[8]. A sweet substance resembling sugar forms on the dried stems and is considered to be a great delicacy[9][7][6][8]. The peduncles, before flowering, can be eaten as a vegetable or added to soups[6].

Root - cooked. It is usually boiled[3].

Leaves

Unknown use

Root

Unknown use

Stem

Unknown use

Unknown part

Sweetener

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Heracleum sphondylium.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The roots and the leaves are aphrodisiac, digestive, mildly expectorant and sedative[3][4][8]. The plant is little used in modern herbalism but has been employed in the treatment of laryngitis and bronchitis[4][8]. A tincture made from the aerial parts of the plant has also been used to relieve general debility, though it is uncertain how it works[3][8]. The plant is harvested as it comes into flower and can be dried for later use[4].

Unknown part

Aphrodisiac
Digestive
Expectorant
Sedative

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow mid to late spring or early autumn in situ. Division in autumn.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Heracleum sphondylium. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

A very easily grown plant, succeeding in any ordinary garden soil[10][8], doing best in moist soils or deep woodland[10]. Grows well in full sun or partial shade[8].

This species contains a large number of sub-species. Some, but by no means all of them, can cause various problems as detailed at the top of this record. Subspecies transylvanicum, pyrenaicum, montanum, orsinii and alpinum are distinctly phototoxic, subspecies sphondylium and sibiricum are not phototoxic whilst subspecies granatense and ternatum vary in their toxicity[1].

A good bee plant[11].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Heracleum sphondylium. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Heracleum sphondylium.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Heracleum sphondylium
Genus
Heracleum
Family
Umbelliferae
Imported References
Edible uses
[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Medicinal uses
[3][4][8]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[5][12]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
permanent shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    biennial, perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    1.8 x meters
    Fertility
    self fertile
    Pollinators
    Bees, Flies
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

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    "image:Heracleum sphondylium Berenklauw.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Heracleum sphondylium Berenklauw.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


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    "image:Heracleum sphondylium Berenklauw.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    References

    1. ? 1.01.1 Frohne. D. and Pf?nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe ISBN 0723408394 (1984-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins ISBN 0-00-219060-5 (1974-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.43.5 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (1984-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.5 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.2 Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.3 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.2 Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. ()
    8. ? 8.08.18.28.38.48.58.68.78.8 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    11. ? International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. (1981-00-00)
    12. ? Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)

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    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Heracleum_sphondylium&oldid=77718"
    Facts about "Heracleum sphondylium"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyUmbelliferae +
    Belongs to genusHeracleum +
    Has binomial nameHeracleum sphondylium +
    Has common nameCow Parsnip +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partLeaves +, Root +, Stem + and Unknown part +
    Has edible useUnknown use + and Sweetener +
    Has fertility typeSelf fertile +, Bees + and Flies +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone5 +
    Has imageHeracleum sphondylium Berenklauw.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typeBiennial + and Perennial +
    Has mature height1.8 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAphrodisiac +, Digestive +, Expectorant + and Sedative +
    Has primary imageHeracleum sphondylium Berenklauw.jpg +
    Has search nameheracleum sphondylium + and cow parsnip +
    Has shade tolerancePermanent shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameHeracleum sphondylium +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedNo +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Heracleum sphondylium +, Heracleum sphondylium +, Heracleum sphondylium +, Heracleum sphondylium +, Heracleum sphondylium +, Heracleum sphondylium +, Heracleum sphondylium + and Heracleum sphondylium +