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Cow Parsnip (aka Poochki, Pushki, Indian Celery, hogweed) Heracleum maximum.  • Family: Apiaceae / Celery • Habitat: Moist ditches and meadows • Height: 3-10 feet • Flower size: 4-8 inch clusters • Flower color: white/cream • Edibility:  Edible, but contains furano-coumarins which can cause blistering rashes to those susceptible.  It is also easily mistaken with Hemlock, which is poisonous.

 

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009 - Report by

Five of us for coffee and the day. We celebrated with a lovely homemade coffee cake.

We first went to Boulder Park on the Coast Guard Point. The flowers we looked up in our books were: Poor-man’s Peppergrass (Lepidium virginicum) and Small Bugloss (it looks like a small forget-me-not). Other flowers we knew were: Sweet William, Hoary Alyssum, White Campion, Dames Rocket, Field Pennycress (in seed) Shrubby Cinquefoil, Caraway, Hop Clover, Purple Clover, Curley Dock, Purple Vetch, Cow Parsnip, Sorrel, Evening Primrose, Ninebark and Red-Osier Dogwood.

As we were driving through town Vipers Bugloss was blooming at the South-of-the-Border’s lower lot and many red & yellow Shrub Roses around town.

We wanted to go see if the Indian Paintbrush was blooming at the Runaway Truck Spot. It was just beginning. Also there were the first Black-eyed Susan’s and Fireweed. Other things at that area were: Heal-all, Pearly Everlasting, Alfalfa, Butter & Eggs, Pineapple weed and Creeping Bellflower.

Then to Mink lake where the beautiful patch of Blue-flag Iris were blooming bordered by Tall Meadowsweet. Also One-flowered Wintergreen, Avens, and Bush Honeysuckle. As we drove to the other end of the lake there were many many large patches of beautiful Linnea tucked among rocks, moss and tree roots.

Then to the Yellow Coralroot which is really a variation of Spotted Coralroot var. f. flavida.  (see photos of spotted coralroot by Ken Hupila)

Then up to Maple Hill Cemetery where there was a lot of Northern Bedstraw and another new flower: Field Scabious.

Lunch @ Lois S’s. The showiest flower this week was Cow Parsnip – the most thrilling was Indian Paintbrush.

During the week – with help – we identified a flower that looked like Butter & Eggs but had different leaves and the flower was all bright yellow. Linaria dalmatica or commonly known as Dalmatian Toadflax – “another beautiful flower that is a noxious weed” – just like the Vipers Bugloss.

It sure is fun finding new flowers and then trying to identify them.

Finally a rain – first measurable this month .95 inches – almost an inch !!!

Click here for the most recent report!

  Be sure to stop back throughout the Summer to see our weekly wildflower reports from Lorraine Anderson of Grand Marais, Minnesota.