Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Marsh Plant Identified

Here's our update!
After doing further research and plant comparisons, I've found that this plant is neither Queen Anne's Lace, nor is it Giant Hogweed, nor Cow Parsnips.  

After studying the leaf pattern more closely, I'm certain this plant is one we don't have to worry about, and seems to quite common in our neck of the woods;  especially with Kitchener having so many natural and man made marshes.  Now that I'm aware of it, I keep seeing it when we are on nature walks.  We also happened to find a real specimen of Queen Anne's Lace, which was nice to see for a change.

Want to know what plant is growing huge by the pond?  Here it is...

"Sium suave (from the Latin sion, meaning "water parsley," and suâvis, meaning "sweet.")[1], the Water Parsnip, is a herb belonging to the parsnip family and comes from Africa and some parts of the Northern Hemisphere." -quoted from Wikipedia