Heracleum sphondylium L.

Erect biennial. Stems hispid, hollow, grooved, green to reddish brown, 60–150–(200) cm high. Basal lvs pinnately 3-foliolate or 1-pinnate with up to 9 leaflets, petiolate; leaflets densely hispidulous below, sparsely to moderately above, ternately or pinnately lobed and serrate, c. 5–20 cm long; lobes acute or obtuse; stem lvs similar to basal, more often pinnately 3-foliolate with reduced petiole; petiole usually tinged purple toward base. Umbels 5–20 cm diam.; rays 12–30; bracts 0–7, linear, 8–15 mm long; bracteoles c. 6, linear, up to 15 mm long. Fls numerous, white or tinged pink; outer fls irregular and up to 10 mm diam. Fr. glabrous, ovate-elliptic, light brown, 7–10 mm long; vittae conspicuous, 0.2–0.5 mm wide at base.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Dec.–Feb.