BURLINGTON, Vt. — Vermont’s Health Department has put out a warning about the wild parsnip, a plant common to roadsides, fields and meadows that can cause serious skin reactions in people exposed to its sap in sunlight.
The plant is also abundant in Maine and other New England states.
During peak summer months, contact with the sap of the wild parsnip causes a chemical burn. The sap is exposed when the plant is cut or knocked down. Reactions start about 24 to 48 hours after contact with the sap and sunlight and includes redness, burns similar to second-degree sunburns, painful rashes and raised blisters.
The plant is a member of the carrot family that reaches a height of 2 to 4 feet with leaves that resemble celery leaves and yellow flowers that look similar to Queen Anne’s Lace.
People who get sap on their skin should wash it with soap and water and protect skin from sunlight for at least 48 hours.
Copy the Story LinkSend questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.