Parsnips for Dinner?

Did you know parsnips grow wild along the roads and along the inland lake shores in Cook County? Well, don't let your mouth water yet. These are not the parsnips that mom used to boil up with the potatoes and gravy.

Locally growing are both Cow Parsnips (Heracleum spondylium) and Water Parsnips (Sium suave). These parsnips range from Texas, up into Ontario, from East to West coast. You may have noticed them growing waist to chest height, with large clusters of delicate white blossoms. The parsnips belong to the Apiaceae family, which has over 2500 species. These include common herbs and vegetables like carrots, celery, parsley, dill, fennel, anise, and coriander.

Why won't I be having this find for dinner tonight? Well, even though stems of cow parsnip have been eaten like raw celery, boiled in stew, or it's leaves dried and used a salt substitute, it is also a high allergen to some. The oil of the plant contains toxic compounds, known as furanocoumarins. Farmers in Southern Minnesota have been struggling with the spread of wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), which has yellow blooms, and contains a photoactive furanocoumarin. These compounds can cause blisters, hyper pigmentation, and itching. This enhances the toxin in sunlight. Also known as "Celery Picker's Itch" or "Bartenders Itch", these maladies have been known to bother both humans, animals, and even insects.

The fact that it affects insects, may be a reason that it has been effective as a natural insect repellant when the leaves have been brushed on ones skin or clothing.

Ok, so I don't think I am affected by these furocoumawhatevers, can't I have the parsnips for dinner? Well, a larger cause for concern is the fact that many of the members of the Apiaceae family are very hared to distinguish from one another. For example, water parsnip and water hemlock can easily be confused with cow parsnip. The water hemlock is extremely toxic and can cause death in animals.

My recommendation? Steer clear of these plants, but enjoy the flowers from afar. Find something else for dinner tonight.

Weekly area wildflower reports by Lorraine Anderson can be found online at www.bwca.cc/wildflowers.

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