Colorado Plant Database
| IDENTIFICATION |
| Common Name: |
COW PARSNIP |
| Family: |
Parsley - Apiaceae |
| Scientific Name: |
Heracleum sphondylium |
| Meaning of Name: |
Heracleum - dedicated to Hercules of Greek mythology. |
| Key Characteristics: |
flat-topped umbels, with outer flowers of the umbel larger than the others; tall, up to 4 feet. |
| Flower Types: |
umbel |
| Flower Color: |
white |
| Leaf Type: |
compound (divided into 2 or more similar parts), ternate (divided into groups of 3). |
| Mature Height: |
to 4 feet. |
| Habitat: |
moist areas and streamsides. |
| ECOLOGY |
| Growth Form: |
herbaceous |
| Growth Duration: |
perennial |
| Angio/Gymnosperm: |
angiosperm (plant with covered seed). |
| Monocot/Dicot: |
dicot (plants with two seed leaves and netted leaf veins). |
| Life Zone: |
foothills to subalpine. |
| Frequency: |
common |
| Native/Alien: |
native |
| Season of Bloom: |
summer (Jun. - Aug.). |
| Eco Relationships: |
members of the parsley family are pollinated by a wide variety of insects but especially by flies and other short-tongued insects due to their easily available nectar; one of the host plants for Anise Swallowtail butterfly, a large black and yellow butterfly with tailed hind wings. |
| HUMAN USES |
| Edibilty: |
leaves, roots and stems are edible. |
| LANDSCAPING |
| Landscaping Use: |
meadow, hedgerow, shady edge. |
| Light Requirement: |
sun to shade. |
Version: 2.3.0 Release Date: Jan 2009 ©2009 Jefferson County ITS
