Giant Hogweed Returns To Michigan, and That's Nothing To Celebrate

It sounds like something from a science fiction novel -- a wild weed that if touched will blind you. But it's real and it's return to Michigan is not a good thing.

In Calhoun County, near Battle Creek, giant hogweed plants have been spotted growing in residential areas. The giant hogweed, if you don't know, has a sap that if it makes skin contact will cause severe reactions for years.

“It’s not deadly but it can certainly cause you an awful lot of discomfort,” Paul Makoski, Calhoun County’s Environmental Health Director told Channel 3 News. He added that touching the plant, can leave you bruised and burned.

“If it were to get on your skin, it's photo reactive meaning that in sunlight it starts to burn. You can have fluid little filled vesicles on your skin. Sometimes that can take 24-48 hours to develop, but what happens is there's almost that possibility that they can develop into permanent purple of black scars on your skin."

The Battle Creek Enquirer reports the sap on the plant's leaves, roots, flower heads, seeds and stem hairs can cause permanent blindness if it gets in the eyes. The sap can also cause blistering and scarring if it gets on bare skin.

Health officials said to wash any skin that contacts the plant in soapy water and to immediately flush affected eyes with water. Medical attention should be sought immediately.

The biennial plant can grow 18 feet high (!!!) and flowers from late spring to mid-summer. It has dark red or purple spots and bristles on a green stem, and a white flower that looks like Queen Anne's lace or cow parsnip.

The giant hogweed inspired a Genesis song from back in their progressive rock days, so there's a bright side.

Here's a video that shows you what the hogweed looks like and how to treat it.