Heracleum asperum

Description

Heracleum is a genus of about 60 species (depending on taxonomic interpretation) of biennial and perennial herbs in the carrot family Apiaceae. They are found throughout the temperate northern hemisphere and in high mountains as far south as Ethiopia. Common names for the genus or its species include hogweed and cow parsnip. The genus name Heracleum was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The word "heracleum" derives from the Greek "herákleion" and refers to the mythologic hero Heracles.