Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes

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Cow Parsnip
Heracleum maximum		  
Family Carrot  (Apiaceae)
Bloom Spring, Summer
Habitat Moist deciduous woods and along roads, lakes and streams
Status Native
Cycle Perennial
Height 4-9 feet
Flower Large, flat clusters of white flowers 4-8" wide.  Individual flowers  are about 1/2" wide and have notched petals and are often larger toward the outside edges of the clusters.
Leaf Leaves are extremely large up to 12-18" wide and are divided into 3 maple-leaf-like segments, each coarsely toothed and not connected to one another.  Leaves are hairy on the underside.
Notes The stem is ridged and hollow and up 2" in diameter.  When the plant is bruised or cut, it emits a very rancorous odor.  Look for the large inflated leafstalk near the stem.

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