Content
- The confusion of yarrow with similar-looking plants: dangerous!
- Concrete dangers due to the danger of confusion in the yarrow
- The spotted hemlock
- The Giant Bear Claw
- Tips
The poisonous giant hogweed looks very similar to the yarrow
The confusion of yarrow with similar-looking plants: dangerous!
The actually non-toxic yarrow (Achillea) with its numerous subspecies belongs to the family of daisy family and is therefore sometimes even for sensitive people with some caution. The far greater danger, however, assumes that similar plants are quite regularly confused with the popular medicinal plant.
Early article The flowering period of the yarrowConcrete dangers due to the danger of confusion in the yarrow
A confusion with the so-called meadowfoam herb is still relatively harmless, since this also counts among the consumable herbs.The situation is different when, instead of the yarrow, a poisonous doppelganger such as the spotted hemlock or the giant hogweed originating from the Caucasus is cut for use in the kitchen, as a medicinal plant or for dry bouquets. After all, these two plants can not only lead to serious damage to health if accidentally ingested. Often the mere touch is enough to cause extremely unpleasant blisters on the skin.
The spotted hemlock
The spotted hemlock (Conium maculatum) is actually with a stature height of up to two meters, significantly higher than the yarrow. Nevertheless, the likelihood of confusion exists with younger specimens of the plant that have not yet reached their full height. The spotted hemlock can be identified by the reddish spots around the stems. In addition, the plant spreads a stinging and unpleasant odor that remotely reminds of mouse urine. The possible complaints when consuming parts of plants are due to the alkaloids contained:
The Giant Bear Claw
Another extremely poisonous doppelganger with a real likelihood of confusion when collecting yarrow is the giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum). This was introduced from the area of the Caucasus and has spread extensively in many natural landscapes. Even more than with the spotted hemlock, mere contact with the skin in this plant already means danger. Although the giant hogweed differs significantly from the yarrows due to its leaves, it nevertheless sometimes appears to children as being similar due to the white umbellate flowers. If the plant is touched with bare hands, lasting weeks of burning wounds can form, which are intensified by direct sunlight.
Tips
To recognize the yarrow beyond doubt, you should look at these in pictures and, if possible, be shown by an expert in nature. In general, in the garden and on excursions into nature with children, the motto is that unknown or undetectable plants should not be touched and certainly not eaten.