Poison Parsnip (aka Wild Parsnip, aka Pastinaca sativa) is not our favorite weed. Far from it. I don’t remember hearing about poison parsnip, nor do I ever recollect seeing it. But over the last decade or two it’s become as ubiquitous as poison ivy.
I intend to gather a handy-dandy “friend or foe” post about poison parsnip ASAP, but today — by way of introducing the noxious, phytophotodermatitis provoking invader — I want to share with you a photo of some recently removed poison parsnip, suitably grateful accolades to Glen who rooted out these dangerous plants, and a micro poem to help imprint the poison parsnip into your awareness.
Let’s start with that photograph above. About a dozen poison parsnip plants pulled from the earth. They’d popped up in the wildflower bed southwest of the vegetable garden. They snuck up on us. Teddi brought them to our attention about a week ago, and Glen agreed to root them out. His thick gloves, courage, and an apparent resistance to the sap which sensitizes skin to sunlight (resulting in severe burns) fueled his accomplishment without misfortune. And we’re ALL the grateful beneficiaries. Thank you, Glen!
Poison Parsnip Poem
Firework finery
towering high above
lilies, wildflowers,
purple cornflowers, asters, milkweed, and goldenrod.
Pretty but poisonous,
this fiery foe
(masquerading as
golden kin to Queen Anne’s Lace)
is formidable for
sinister synergy
between sap and sunlight
[…]
Not a first attempt, nor a final attempt. Still germinating, still freeing its bloom and its perfume.
What do you think?