Hul'q'umi'num' name:
saaqw’ – cow parsnip
English Name:
Cow Parsnip
Scientific Name:
Heracleum lanatum
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Description
Description, Habitat, Ecology, Distribution
Cow-parsnip is a large, herbaceous plant that produces large clusters of white flowers followed by small, flat seed-like fruits. It grows along streambanks, moist slopes, and clearings as well as a variety of other habitats from sea level to subalpine elevations. It is common throughout the entire coastal area of the province.
Island Cultural Role
The hollow stems and solid leaf stalks of this plant are edible, once peeled to remove the skin. The term saaqw’ seems to refer to the entire plant of cow-parsnip. Cow-parsnip stems and leaf stalks are edible when peeled. They must be peeled before they are eaten to remove the outer skin, which can cause skin irritation upon contact with bare, moist skin in the presence of sunlight. The term yaala applies to the edible portion of cow-parsnips, possibly both the stems and the leaf stalks.
Cautions
CAUTION: This species may be harmful. This plant is phototoxic. Contact with this plant can cause the skin to be hypersensitive to sunlight, with dermatitis (skin irritation) resulting after exposure to these plants and sunlight.
Language
Hul'q'umi'num' Name
saaqw’ – cow parsnip
APA
sa:q̓ʷ
Speaker
Margaret James
Hul'q'umi'num' Name 2
yaala’ – the edible part of a cow parsnip plant
APA
ya:laʔ
Speaker
Ruby Peter
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Photos
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