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The Giant Hogweed - yes, it exists. Heracleum mantegazzianum

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HopeHoops Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-18-10 11:47 AM
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The Giant Hogweed - yes, it exists. Heracleum mantegazzianum
In the late 70's, I thought this song by Genesis was a made up fantasy. It is, after all, from an album called "Nursery Cryme".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HDDCJ9lKKI - Belgium, 1972
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTuJQL8GBqY - from the album

It turns out that the "Return of the Giant Hogweed" is an historical ballad - based on fact. The plant is even considered a menace in Pennsylvania:

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/invasivetutorial/giant_hogweed_M_C.htm
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HughBeaumont Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-18-10 12:30 PM
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1. One of the best Gabriel-era Genesis songs.
With wind, a Hogweed has thousands of seeds spreading over large areas, which explains it's invasiveness. That plant's sap can cause burns and scarring. It's pretty bad when you have to wear a hazmat suit to dig it up.
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Beetwasher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-18-10 12:34 PM
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2. Of Course It Exists
In my pants.

And yes, it's definitely a menace in PA...and elsewhere.
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HopeHoops Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-18-10 02:08 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. WOO HOO!
"Turn and run. Nothing can stop them."
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Kali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-18-10 02:21 PM
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4. the pigweed can get over 8 feet tall here
when it actually rains in the summer (amaranth, different plant)
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HopeHoops Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-18-10 02:23 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. Amaranth is my second favorite grain! The first favorite is quinoa.
Yummy stuff, that.
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Kali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-18-10 02:32 PM
Response to Reply #5
6. I was at a farm in the Sierra Madre, in Chihuahua a few years ago where
an American has set up an experimental plot of grain Amaranth - it was interesting. The had hand made ranch cheese too.
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arbusto_baboso Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-18-10 07:29 PM
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7. Isn't Hogweed the wizarding school in the Harry Potter flicks?
Sounds awfully familiar...
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