About Heracleum sphondylium subsp. sibiricum (L.) Simonk.
Heracleum sphondylium is a herbaceous flowering plant. It is a tall, roughly hairy species that grows up to 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) tall. Its hollow, ridged, bristly-haired stem grows from a large tap root. Its leaves can reach 50 centimetres (20 in) in length; they are once or twice pinnate, hairy and serrated, and divided into 3–5 lobed segments. Heracleum sphondylium is most commonly a polycarpic perennial plant, not a biennial as some sources incorrectly claim. Its flowers are arranged in flat or slightly convex umbels 4–25 cm in diameter, usually with 10–25 hairy, somewhat unequal rays that each measure 2–12 cm long. Each individual flower has five white petals, which are rarely pinkish-white to purplish instead. Central flowers within the umbel have radial symmetry (actinomorphic), while perimeter flowers have bilateral symmetry (zygomorphic) due to their enlarged outermost petals. Its winged fruits are flattened schizocarps, elliptical to rounded, glabrous, and around 7–12 mm long. The common name 'hogweed' likely originates from the plant's characteristic 'farm yardy' smell, or from historical observations that pigs would eat its foliage and roots. Heracleum sphondylium is smaller than Heracleum mantegazzianum (giant hogweed) and Heracleum sosnowskyi (Sosnowsky's hogweed). It contains the same phytophototoxic furanocoumarin compounds found in the larger species, but at much lower concentrations. Even so, there is evidence that sap from this common hogweed can cause phytophotodermatitis (burns and rashes) in sensitive individuals when contaminated skin is exposed to sunlight. Heracleum sphondylium is native to most of Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa. For example, it occurs in southern and southwestern Poland, but is far less common across other regions of the country. The species has been introduced to North America: it has specifically been introduced to eastern Canada, though reports of H. sphondylium in Canada are rare. Some authorities note that Heracleum sphondylium subsp. sibiricum, which is a synonym of Heracleum sibiricum, has been introduced to the United States, but botanists working in New England have not been able to identify local specimens to this subspecies rank. This plant is common in grasslands, herb-rich meadows, hedgerows, woodlands, road verges, railway embankments, waste ground, and cultivated land. It grows particularly well on moist, nitrogen-rich improved soils, and can grow in mountain areas up to 2,500 m (8,200 ft) in altitude. In Europe, the primary flowering season for Heracleum sphondylium subsp. sphondylium runs from June to September, with peak flowering in July and peak seed ripening in August. In Great Britain, seed dispersal takes place in late September and early October, which usually coincides with winds around the September equinox. The flowers are pollinated by insects including beetles, wasps, and especially flies. As its name suggests, the small picture-winged fly Euleia heraclei is found living on hogweed. The leaves are commonly mined by larvae of the leaf miner Phytomyza spondylii. In a UK plant survey conducted by AgriLand, a project supported by the UK Insect Pollinators Initiative, Heracleum sphondylium ranked in the top 10 for highest annual nectar production per unit of plant cover. Borscht originates from an ancient soup originally made from pickled common hogweed stems, leaves, and umbels. Many foragers consider the species' young shoots to be excellent food. In eastern European countries, particularly Romania, H. sphondylium is used as an aphrodisiac, and to treat gynecological conditions, fertility problems, and impotence. It is also sometimes recommended for epilepsy. However, there are no clinical studies to confirm that it is effective for treating any of these conditions. Dried seeds of the plant can be used as a spice, with a flavour similar to cardamom.
