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Photographer: Kitty Kohout
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Family Apiaceae
Pastinaca sativa L.
wild parsnip
Pastinaca: one source says from Latin pastino, " to prepare the ground for planting," while another says from Latin pastus, "food." This was the ancient name of the parsnip and may give a clue as to the origin of the Italian word pasta
sativa: sown
Hazardous 
Restricted Invasive - Eradicate!
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| Status: | Introduced - naturalized; ecologically invasive |
| Plant: | erect, biennial, 1'-5' tall forb, first year plants a basal rosette of leaves; stems flat and ridged; long taproot; entire plant causes photo-dermatitis, avoid all contact with skin |
| Flower: | yellow, 5-parted; inflorescence a 4"-8" wide, flat, compound umbel, with 15-25 umbellets on irregular stalks; the side umbels, in time, become taller than the first-blooming, central umbel; blooms June-July |
| Fruit: | dry, flattened in the back, smooth, side ribs slightly winged, splitting into 2 seeds- fruit:  seed: |
| Leaf: | pinnately-divided into 5-15 lobed or cut, 2"-4" long, stalkless, broad, distinct and separated leaflets; lower leaves on long stalks, upper on shorter, sheathing stalks |
| Habitat: | sun; disturbed sites, old fields, roadsides, pastures |
| Notes: | to eradicate, WEAR protective clothing, cut root below the ground, pull, burn and herbicide, mow for at least 5 years around July 1. |
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