People living in Scotland have been warned not to touch harmless-looking Giant Hogweed which is thriving in hot weather.
The toxic plant, which can grow up to five metres tall, causes severe burns and blistering on the skin that last for several months.
It's a non-native species which has been spreading uncontrollably across Scotland for decades, producing up to 50,000 seeds which can survive for many years.
But the sap of the weed, which looks like a giant version of the harmless plant cow parsley, is extremely toxic to humans and animals, causing horrific burns on the skin.
The skin remains sensitive to UV light for many years - and can even cause blindness if near the eyes.
Every year, thousands of people, including children and pets, suffer life-changing injuries from Giant Hogweed after accidentally coming into contact with it out in the wild.
The Property Care Association (PCA) is now warning youngsters to avoid Giant Hogweed, which has thrived in recent weather weather conditions.
Dr Peter Fitzsimons, technical manager of the PCA’s Invasive Weed Control Group, said: "Youngsters are more likely to come into contact with the plant during the summertime and the mix of warm weather and rain has provided good conditions for the weed to take hold this year.
"Giant Hogweed is also spreading across a wider area, meaning that people are more likely to encounter it.
"If anyone comes into contact with any part of the plant, followed by exposure to sunlight, they can sustain severe blistering to the skin and discomfort, and this reaction can recur for many years.
"The general public, as well as local authorities, statutory agencies and landowners on whose property people can come into contact with the plant, should be aware of the risks and Giant Hogweed needs to be controlled and managed professionally.”
Have you had a bad experience after coming into contact with Giant Hogweed recently? Let us know in the comments section.
What to do if you touch Giant Hogweed
The Woodland Trust advises anyone who touches Giant Hogweed to wash the area thoroughly immediately.
You should also seek medical advice, and do not expose the area to sunlight for a few days.
The Woodland Trust state you should look out for the following:
Stems: Green with purple blotches and stiff, white hairs. Stems are hollow with ridges and have a thick circle of hairs at base of each leaf stalk.
Leaves: Huge, up to 1.5m wide and 3m long and is deeply divided into smaller leaflets. It looks a bit like a rhubarb leaf, with irregular and very sharp or jagged edges – which has given rise to one of its other common names – wild rhubarb. The underside of the leaf is hairy.
Flowers: Appear in June and July. They are small and white (or slightly pink) and are clustered on umbrella-like heads known as umbels that can reach a diameter of 60cm. All the flowers on the umbel face upwards.
Seeds: Dry, flattened, and oval. Almost 1cm long with tan with brown lines extending 3/4 of the seed length.’
