Cow Parsnip

Cow parsnip is another plant of the Umbelliferae family featuring its signature umbrella shaped little flowers. Cow parsnip has huge leaves and can grow quite tall. The plant is very sturdy, has thick stems, somewhat hairy and hollow inside. Its Latin (botanical) name is Heracleum maximum, meaning "big" (like in Hercules).

Cow parsnip at Arcata marsh

Cow parsnip has really big leaves, easily recognizable.

Cow parsnip leaves

And here some good close-up of flowers

Cow parsnip umbrella, top view

And here a close-up umbrella in profile

Cow parsnip umbrella, side view

Interestingly, we found only one place where the cow parsnip grew and the patch was overgrown with all kinds of plants. But we saw it outside of marsh too, it's fairly common but not too common. Incidentally, I have read that cows don't like to eat it.

The juice of this plant contains phototoxin that reacts with the skin when exposed to ultraviolet rays. In other words, if you want to collect this plant, do it late in the evening (after sunset) or at night.