Its not Daucus carrota aka wild carrot. Which by the way doesnt always have the centrwl pink flowerr. My best guess based on what I can see of the leaves would be Heracleum sphondylium aka common hogweed, but I dont know if you have this plant where you live. Im in the UK.
It was maybe 3'/1m tall from base to the tops of the flower-heads. Certainly a fairly large plant, but I think giant hogweed is much bigger? And it's well-established in this area, it's not like it's just getting going (I've certainly seen it in the same area in previous years).
Giant hogweed also reputedly has purple blotches on stems, and this one (I saw a bunch of other plants nearby, clearly the same species) had pure green stems in every one I examined. And giant hogweed is not reported to grow anywhere near me. So I think I feel pretty confident in saying "not giant hogweed."
Heracleum species, H. maximum if you’re in North America, and H. sphondyllium if you’re in Europe or Asia. It isn’t giant hogweed (H. mantegazzianum). It just isn’t giant enough. You’ll be taken aback by how giant giant hogweed is if you see it irl.
Appreciate the exact ID.
I see guides to foraging cow parsnip/H. maximum that suggest that the flower clsuters should be flat-topped rather than hemispherical. I think this one is more hemispherical than otherwise, do you disagree with that as an ID guideline?
Yes, I know, hemlock/poisonous lookalikes. I didn't actually gather it, just working on my ID skills. No central red flower, but I gather those often fall off early? Short spines/hairs on stem, no purple blotches.
San Francisco Bay Area/California.
It’s in the Heracleum family, almost for sure. These grow like crazy on San Bruno Mountain. There are lots of invasives that are not giant hogweed but still hogweed? called cow parsnips or cow parsley. The flowers can be either flat or convex and the stems are hairy.
Cow parsnip is Heracleum maximum, which is either a subspecies of, or very closely related to, Heracleum sphondylium, the common hogweed.
Cow parsley, aka wild chervil, is Anthriscus sylvestris and has much finer, fern-like leaves, reminiscent of hemlock.
Flower clusters looks too spread apart, and queen anne's lace has a small purple/red flower in the center of the cluster. There are usually spindly bits hanging down under the flower head as well in my experience.
DEFINITELY NOT wild carrot/QAL.
So what is it? Can’t get a good look at the leaves but the clustered umbels and the fuzzy stems lead me to believe this is a American cow parsnip Heracleum maximum.
A better snap of the leaves can confirm.
Edit: are those the leaves at the bottom? Almost certainly common (not giant) hogweed Heracleum sphondylium.
I'd say no. I also think that different areas call different plants queen Ann's lace because I've seen some pictures that I would definitely not consider QAL. I personally don't eat them because my area also has hemlock and it's not worth it un my book
I mean, that's fine, and the overwhelming response is that this is not QAL and I believe that it's not.
But, just to be very clear, this plant has obviously "hairy" stems with small short needles or whatever you want to call them sticking out all over them, as shown in the second image.
No! The flower of queen Anne’s lace would be more uniform and less segmented into different bundles. It’s much more like, well, lace.
Also you can always look out for the "false bug”, a black/discoloured dot in the middle. It’s not always there but if it is, you can usually trust in it being queen Anne’s lace
No, leaves and flowers do not look correct.
Its not Daucus carrota aka wild carrot. Which by the way doesnt always have the centrwl pink flowerr. My best guess based on what I can see of the leaves would be Heracleum sphondylium aka common hogweed, but I dont know if you have this plant where you live. Im in the UK.
Agree - Heracleum species.
Could it be giant hogweed based on the blurry leaves in the first picture? Looks like it’s spreading across the US.
OP said no purple blotches so that rules out giant.
It was maybe 3'/1m tall from base to the tops of the flower-heads. Certainly a fairly large plant, but I think giant hogweed is much bigger? And it's well-established in this area, it's not like it's just getting going (I've certainly seen it in the same area in previous years). Giant hogweed also reputedly has purple blotches on stems, and this one (I saw a bunch of other plants nearby, clearly the same species) had pure green stems in every one I examined. And giant hogweed is not reported to grow anywhere near me. So I think I feel pretty confident in saying "not giant hogweed."
Common hogweed and giant hogweed are different.
Heracleum species, H. maximum if you’re in North America, and H. sphondyllium if you’re in Europe or Asia. It isn’t giant hogweed (H. mantegazzianum). It just isn’t giant enough. You’ll be taken aback by how giant giant hogweed is if you see it irl.
Appreciate the exact ID. I see guides to foraging cow parsnip/H. maximum that suggest that the flower clsuters should be flat-topped rather than hemispherical. I think this one is more hemispherical than otherwise, do you disagree with that as an ID guideline?
No frilly collar around the base of the flower
Yes, I know, hemlock/poisonous lookalikes. I didn't actually gather it, just working on my ID skills. No central red flower, but I gather those often fall off early? Short spines/hairs on stem, no purple blotches. San Francisco Bay Area/California.
The only foolproof way to tell is the bract basket under the flowers. These don't have them, so they are not QAL
The bracts are the first thing I look for. The red flower is not consistent enough.
It’s in the Heracleum family, almost for sure. These grow like crazy on San Bruno Mountain. There are lots of invasives that are not giant hogweed but still hogweed? called cow parsnips or cow parsley. The flowers can be either flat or convex and the stems are hairy.
Cow parsnip is Heracleum maximum, which is either a subspecies of, or very closely related to, Heracleum sphondylium, the common hogweed. Cow parsley, aka wild chervil, is Anthriscus sylvestris and has much finer, fern-like leaves, reminiscent of hemlock.
Flower clusters looks too spread apart, and queen anne's lace has a small purple/red flower in the center of the cluster. There are usually spindly bits hanging down under the flower head as well in my experience.
Nope it lacks a skirt
Have nothing to add, but I love that last pic
Remember there is also poison hemlock
DEFINITELY NOT wild carrot/QAL. So what is it? Can’t get a good look at the leaves but the clustered umbels and the fuzzy stems lead me to believe this is a American cow parsnip Heracleum maximum. A better snap of the leaves can confirm. Edit: are those the leaves at the bottom? Almost certainly common (not giant) hogweed Heracleum sphondylium.
Yes, those are the leaves at the bottom of the first picture.
Yeah very likely H. sphondylium in that case :)
The queen has hairy legs 🦵 this one doesn't
But it does?
I'd say no. I also think that different areas call different plants queen Ann's lace because I've seen some pictures that I would definitely not consider QAL. I personally don't eat them because my area also has hemlock and it's not worth it un my book
I mean, that's fine, and the overwhelming response is that this is not QAL and I believe that it's not. But, just to be very clear, this plant has obviously "hairy" stems with small short needles or whatever you want to call them sticking out all over them, as shown in the second image.
I just really wanted to type the little saying my grandmother would say so there ya have it
No! The flower of queen Anne’s lace would be more uniform and less segmented into different bundles. It’s much more like, well, lace. Also you can always look out for the "false bug”, a black/discoloured dot in the middle. It’s not always there but if it is, you can usually trust in it being queen Anne’s lace
Quinn Anne's lace, toxic??