If You See This Giant Hogweed Plant, Do Not Touch It

A 17-year old boy from Virginia is recovering in the hospital after a giant hogweed plant, pictured above, left him with second-and-third degree burns all over his face and body.

According to People, Alex Childres was working a landscaping job when he chopped one of these plants down. The plant’s sap is known to cause severe damage to the skin. Although he didn’t notice anything right away, when Childress returned home to shower he knew something was wrong.

“I thought I just had sunburn, so I didn’t really pay any attention. Then I got in the shower and I started rubbing my face,” he said. “I thought it was just a little bit of skin at first, but then big chunks of my face were falling off.”

When he showed his mother she rushed him to the local hospital where he was admitted to the burn unit. Childress hopes by sharing his experience with other they will become informed about the types of plants that can harm you. So, what type of plants may you encounter?

The Giant Hogweed

The giant hogweed plant appeared in the United States in 1917, according to TIME. When its sap is mixed with moisture and sunlight it can cause skin and eye irritation and can lead to blindness, permanent scarring and blistering.

The plant grows to around 14 feet tall. And, as you can see in the photo above, it has a thick, green, hairy stem. At the top, it has large leaves and white flowers. Although it may seem inviting, you want to avoid it at all costs.

It grows in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Oregon, Washington, Virginia, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Water Hemlock

Water hemlock, also known as water parsnip, is the most poisonous plant in the U.S. Ingesting a small mouthful can kill an adult. Ask A Prepper quotes an instance a few years ago where two foragers ingested hemlock. Within 30 minutes one man started vomiting and convulsing. When a rescue team arrived, he was unresponsive and died within three hours of eating the plant. Fortunately, they were able to save his friend.

Water hemlock grows throughout the country and can be found in all 50 states. It generally grows along creeks and wetlands.

Deadly Nightshade

Deadly nightshade, also known as belladonna, have poisonous leaves and berries, making it especially dangerous for children. The berries hang at eye-level for the kids, look pretty, and taste sweet. Two to four can be fatal for a child (10 for adults).

It has been used as a poison for centuries and when ingested, it caused the following symptoms: red face, dry mouth, dilated pupils, and a quickened pulse.  If not treated in time, it can escalate to include heart arrhythmia, tremors, hallucinations, paranoia, and cramping.

Castor Oil Plant

The Castor Oil plant holds the Guinness record for fastest death. It has glossy leaves and coarse spot, as pictured above.

Although you can find Castor Oil in households nationwide and it has even been used as a laxative, its seeds are dangerous. Castor Oil seeds contain ricin, a toxin that, when ingested, can lead to gastric system burning, throat pain and burning, bloody diarrhea, and death. Two seeds can kill an adult.

The plant can be found throughout the Eastern part of the United States, in parts of the Midwest and California.

White Snakeroot

White Snakeroot famously killed Abraham Lincoln’s mother. It contains a toxin that causes trembling, vomiting, and intestinal issues when ingested. If you eat the meat or drink the milk of a cow who has been grazing on white snakeroot it can cause sickness and even death.

The plants are generally about 3 feet tall and have leaves that are sharp on the edges, pointing al directions. It is found in the Midwest and the Eastern part of the United States. It is generally found in the woods or forest along streams.

These are just a few of the deadliest plants and weeds in the U.S. If you are planning a foraging or hiking trip, be sure you know the area and know what poisonous plants may be around. When in doubt, don’t eat what you find in the woods.

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