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Thursday, June 11, 2015

Invasive Weed

Years ago, after having purchased some irises at a horticultural sale, I was "blessed" with an invasive weed. I have been waging war with it for over ten years. I don't know what it is. I've never seen it anywhere else. It looks like Queen Anne's Lace, but it most definitely is not. It spreads by it's roots so I am constantly digging up the earth. If the tiniest one is left behind it will root and start all over again.


Up close, it looks like this. This is the first year I have let some go to flower, out of curiosity. Not much of a flower.The stalks, when I pull them out, smell like celery.

Any one have an idea
what it is?
Posted by barbara@sparrowavenue at 4:59 AM

2 comments:

  1. LaureneJune 11, 2015 at 6:17 AM

    I'm not sure but it does look like water parsnip (Sium suave) (ref: http://ontariowildflowers.com/main/species.php?id=148) It may be a possibility if that part of your yard is quite damp.

    The only thing that might worry me with your 2 beautiful dogs playing in the yard is its resemblance to water hemlock which is poisonous according to this article.

    Another similar plant is the "Osha" which has a "spicy celery" odor ( ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ligusticum_porteri) . Although the article says that it is a mountainous plant, it may have hitched a ride on a plant that you bought.

    Good luck with it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. barbara@sparrowavenueJune 11, 2015 at 8:26 AM

      Thank you so much for this information.
      I'm sure it's not the poison hemlock; the Osha might be it as it certainly has a celery smell when I'm weeding it. The link doesn't mention how it spreads and I think that is a factor I will have to further research. But this is a great start!
      Thank you again!

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