NameThatPlant.net: Heracleum maximum

Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Asterids: Campanulids: Apiales

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Heracleum maximum FAMILY Apiaceae Go to FSUS key

Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.

Read more about Cow-parsnip at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Heracleum maximum FAMILY Apiaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 140-36-001:

Heracleum lanatum FAMILY Apiaceae

COMMON NAME:
Cow-parsnip, American Hogweed, Masterwort

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Heracleum maximum FAMILY Apiaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Heracleum maximum FAMILY Apiaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 140-36-001:
Heracleum lanatum FAMILY Apiaceae

662

Forb
Biennial

Habitat: northern hardwood forests, roadbanks, meadows, forest openings, grassy balds, rich floodplain forests, per Weakley's Flora

Native to North Carolina & Georgia

Uncommon in NC Mountains, rare in GA

CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.

LEAVES:
Ternately or pinnately compound
Alternate

FLOWER:
Spring/Summer
White
Somewhat asymmetrical
5-merous
Inferior ovary
Bisexual & staminate

Flowers in compound umbels

FRUIT:
Summer
Schizocarp of two mericarps

TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!

If a search such as "Carex leptalea var. leptalea" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "Carex leptalea".
Or, to minimize chances of a misspelling, try just "Carex le".

Less is more: If "pencil flower" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "pencil".