Heracleum sphondylium montanum
(Schleich. ex Gaudin.)Briq.
Apiaceae
The Temperate Database is in the process of being updated, with new records being added and old ones being checked and brought up to date where necessary. This record has not yet been checked and updated.
Common Name: Cow Parsnip
General Information
Heracleum sphondylium montanum is a perennial plant that can grow up to 2.40 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.
Known Hazards
Many members of this genus, including this species[
65- Title
- A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Frohne. D. and Pfänder. J.
- Publisher
- Wolfe
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 0723408394
- Description
- Brilliant. Goes into technical details but in a very readable way. The best work on the subject that I've come across so far.
], contain furanocoumarins. These have carcinogenic, mutagenic and phototoxic properties. The fresh foliage can cause dermatitis[
21- Title
- The Herb Book.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lust. J.
- Publisher
- Bantam books
- Year
- 1983
- ISBN
- 0-553-23827-2
- Description
- Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.
]. If the juice and hairs of the outer skin are left on the face and mouth, they can cause blisters[
212- Title
- A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers
- Publication
-
- Author
- Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R.
- Publisher
- The Riverside Press
- Year
- 1963
- ISBN
- 63-7093
- Description
- Excellent little pocket guide to the area, covering 590 species and often giving details of their uses.
]. This effect is especially prevalent for people with fair complexions[
256- Title
- Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples
- Publication
-
- Author
- Turner. N. J.
- Publisher
- UBC Press. Vancouver.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0-7748-0533-1
- Description
- Excellent little handbook about the native food plants of Western Canada. Good descriptions of the plants and their uses with colour photos of most plants.
].
Botanical References
71- Title
- A California Flora.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Munz P.A. & Keck D.D.
- Publisher
- University of California Press; Los Angeles
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent flora but no pictures. Not for the casual reader.
,
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Range
N. America to W. Asia.
Habitat
Rich damp soils of prairies and mountains, especially along streams and in open woods in Western N. America[
212- Title
- A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers
- Publication
-
- Author
- Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R.
- Publisher
- The Riverside Press
- Year
- 1963
- ISBN
- 63-7093
- Description
- Excellent little pocket guide to the area, covering 590 species and often giving details of their uses.
].
Properties
Edibility Rating | |
Medicinal Rating | |
Habit | Perennial |
Height | 2.40 m |
Pollinators | Insects |
Self-fertile | Yes |
Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Succeeds in any ordinary garden soil, doing best in moist soils or deep woodland[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
,
55- Title
- Eat the Weeds.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Harris. B. C.
- Publisher
- Pivot Health
- Year
- 1973
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Interesting reading.
,
60- Title
- Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hitchcock. C. L.
- Publisher
- University of Washington Press
- Year
- 1955
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A standard flora for Western N. America with lots of information on habitat etc. Five large volumes, it is not for the casual reader.
].
Edible Uses
Root - cooked[
2- Title
- Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hedrick. U. P.
- Publisher
- Dover Publications
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- 0-486-20459-6
- Description
- Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
,
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
85- Title
- Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Harrington. H. D.
- Publisher
- University of New Mexico Press
- Year
- 1967
- ISBN
- 0-8623-0343-9
- Description
- A superb book. Very readable, it gives the results of the authors experiments with native edible plants.
,
94- Title
- Common Edible and Useful Plants of the West.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sweet. M.
- Publisher
- Naturegraph Co.
- Year
- 1962
- ISBN
- 0-911010-54-8
- Description
- Useful wild plants in Western N. America. A pocket guide.
]. Tastes like a swede[
155- Title
- Flowers of the Southwest Mountains.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Arnberger. L. P.
- Publisher
- Southwestern Monuments Ass.
- Year
- 1968
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A lovely little pocket guide to wild plants in the southern Rockies of America.
,
183- Title
- Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-0-9
- Description
- Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
]. Used like potatoes, though it is considered to be poisonous by some writers[
213- Title
- Earth Medicine, Earth Food.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Weiner. M. A.
- Publisher
- Ballantine Books
- Year
- 1980
- ISBN
- 0-449-90589-6
- Description
- A nice book to read though it is difficult to look up individual plants since the book is divided into separate sections dealing with the different medicinal uses plus a section on edible plants. Common names are used instead of botanical.
].
The peeled stem can be eaten raw but is best cooked[
2- Title
- Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hedrick. U. P.
- Publisher
- Dover Publications
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- 0-486-20459-6
- Description
- Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
,
61- Title
- A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Usher. G.
- Publisher
- Constable
- Year
- 1974
- ISBN
- 0094579202
- Description
- Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
,
183- Title
- Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-0-9
- Description
- Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
]. The unpeeled stem can be used when young, or just the inner tissue of older stems can be used, before the plants flower[
85- Title
- Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Harrington. H. D.
- Publisher
- University of New Mexico Press
- Year
- 1967
- ISBN
- 0-8623-0343-9
- Description
- A superb book. Very readable, it gives the results of the authors experiments with native edible plants.
,
94- Title
- Common Edible and Useful Plants of the West.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sweet. M.
- Publisher
- Naturegraph Co.
- Year
- 1962
- ISBN
- 0-911010-54-8
- Description
- Useful wild plants in Western N. America. A pocket guide.
]. For people not used to the flavour, they are best cooked in two changes of water when they make a tasty celery-like vegetable[
213- Title
- Earth Medicine, Earth Food.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Weiner. M. A.
- Publisher
- Ballantine Books
- Year
- 1980
- ISBN
- 0-449-90589-6
- Description
- A nice book to read though it is difficult to look up individual plants since the book is divided into separate sections dealing with the different medicinal uses plus a section on edible plants. Common names are used instead of botanical.
]. Another report says that, despite the strong odour of the leaves and outer skin, the peeled young stems are mild and sweet, resembling celery in flavour[
256- Title
- Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples
- Publication
-
- Author
- Turner. N. J.
- Publisher
- UBC Press. Vancouver.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0-7748-0533-1
- Description
- Excellent little handbook about the native food plants of Western Canada. Good descriptions of the plants and their uses with colour photos of most plants.
]. The stems cannot be eaten raw in large quantities because they give a burning sensation in the mouth[
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
]. The stems are highly nutritious, containing up to 18% protein[
213- Title
- Earth Medicine, Earth Food.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Weiner. M. A.
- Publisher
- Ballantine Books
- Year
- 1980
- ISBN
- 0-449-90589-6
- Description
- A nice book to read though it is difficult to look up individual plants since the book is divided into separate sections dealing with the different medicinal uses plus a section on edible plants. Common names are used instead of botanical.
].
Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked[
55- Title
- Eat the Weeds.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Harris. B. C.
- Publisher
- Pivot Health
- Year
- 1973
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Interesting reading.
,
85- Title
- Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Harrington. H. D.
- Publisher
- University of New Mexico Press
- Year
- 1967
- ISBN
- 0-8623-0343-9
- Description
- A superb book. Very readable, it gives the results of the authors experiments with native edible plants.
,
94- Title
- Common Edible and Useful Plants of the West.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sweet. M.
- Publisher
- Naturegraph Co.
- Year
- 1962
- ISBN
- 0-911010-54-8
- Description
- Useful wild plants in Western N. America. A pocket guide.
,
118- Title
- Ethnobotany of Western Washington.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Gunther. E.
- Publisher
- University of Washington Press
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- 0-295-95258-X
- Description
- A small book, it is a good guide to useful plants in Western N. America.
]. Cooked as greens or added to salads[
183- Title
- Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-0-9
- Description
- Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
].
Young flowers[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
61- Title
- A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Usher. G.
- Publisher
- Constable
- Year
- 1974
- ISBN
- 0094579202
- Description
- Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
,
105- Title
- Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Tanaka. T. & Nakao S.
- Publisher
- Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo
- Year
- 1976
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
]. No further details.
The dried seeds are used as a flavouring for soups, stews and potato salads[
85- Title
- Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Harrington. H. D.
- Publisher
- University of New Mexico Press
- Year
- 1967
- ISBN
- 0-8623-0343-9
- Description
- A superb book. Very readable, it gives the results of the authors experiments with native edible plants.
,
183- Title
- Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-0-9
- Description
- Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
].
The dried base of the plant and ashes from the burnt leaves are used as a salt substitute[
183- Title
- Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-0-9
- Description
- Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
].
Medicinal
Cow parsnip was widely employed medicinally by a large number of native North American Indian tribes who used it to treat a wide variety of complaints, but especially as a poultice on bruises, sores etc[
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
]. It is little used in modern herbalism, though perhaps it merits further investigation.
All parts of the plant are antirheumatic, antispasmodic, carminative, febrifuge, odontalgic and stimulant[
21- Title
- The Herb Book.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lust. J.
- Publisher
- Bantam books
- Year
- 1983
- ISBN
- 0-553-23827-2
- Description
- Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.
,
94- Title
- Common Edible and Useful Plants of the West.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sweet. M.
- Publisher
- Naturegraph Co.
- Year
- 1962
- ISBN
- 0-911010-54-8
- Description
- Useful wild plants in Western N. America. A pocket guide.
,
155- Title
- Flowers of the Southwest Mountains.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Arnberger. L. P.
- Publisher
- Southwestern Monuments Ass.
- Year
- 1968
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A lovely little pocket guide to wild plants in the southern Rockies of America.
,
172- Title
- Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Schofield. J. J.
- Publisher
- Alaska Northwest Books; Alaska
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 0882403699
- Description
- A nice guide to some useful plants in that area.
,
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].
The leaves are tonic[
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
]. They have been used in the treatment of colds[
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
]. A soothing drink made from the leaves is used to treat sore throats[
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
]. A poultice of the heated leaves has been applied to minor cuts, sore muscles etc[
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].
An infusion of the fresh young stems has been used in the treatment of diarrhoea[
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
]. It has also been used as a wash to remove warts[
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].
The plant has been used in the treatment of epilepsy[
213- Title
- Earth Medicine, Earth Food.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Weiner. M. A.
- Publisher
- Ballantine Books
- Year
- 1980
- ISBN
- 0-449-90589-6
- Description
- A nice book to read though it is difficult to look up individual plants since the book is divided into separate sections dealing with the different medicinal uses plus a section on edible plants. Common names are used instead of botanical.
].
A tea made from the roots is used in the treatment of indigestion, colds, stomach cramps, rheumatism, sore throats, TB etc[
222- Title
- A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Foster. S. & Duke. J. A.
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Co.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-395-46722-5
- Description
- A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
,
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
]. Externally, the root is used as a poultice on sores, bruises, swellings, boils, rheumatic joints, VD scabs etc, whilst a bit of root has been held on an aching tooth to reduce the pain[
222- Title
- A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Foster. S. & Duke. J. A.
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Co.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-395-46722-5
- Description
- A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
,
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
]. The root can be crushed, mixed with water and used as an antidandruff hair wash[
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].
The root contains psoralen, which is being investigated for its use in the treatment of psoriasis, leukaemia and AIDS[
222- Title
- A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Foster. S. & Duke. J. A.
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Co.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-395-46722-5
- Description
- A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
].
The seed has been used to treat severe headaches[
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].
Other Uses
Whistles, flutes, straws etc can be made from the hollow stems[
99- Title
- Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Turner. N. J.
- Publisher
- British Columbia Provincial Museum
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
- 0-7718-8117-7
- Description
- Excellent and readable guide.
,
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].
The leaves are used as a covering for baskets of fruit etc[
99- Title
- Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Turner. N. J.
- Publisher
- British Columbia Provincial Museum
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
- 0-7718-8117-7
- Description
- Excellent and readable guide.
].
A yellow dye is obtained from the roots[
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].
An infusion of the blossoms, rubbed on the body, repels flies and mosquitoes[
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].
Propagation
Seed - sow mid to late spring or early autumn in situ.
Division in autumn.