The Parsnip River is a 240-kilometre (150 mi) long river in central British Columbia , Canada . It flows generally north-westward from the Parsnip Glacier in the Hart Ranges to the Parsnip Reach of Williston Lake , formed by the impounding of the waters of the Peace River by the W.A.C. Bennett Dam in 1968. Prior to that, the Parsnip joined with the Finlay River to form the Peace at Finlay Forks , with both sharing an alignment along the Rocky Mountain Trench .
20-540: The river's name derives from the abundance of cow-parsnip ( Heracleum lanatum ), also known as Indian rhubarb, which grows along its banks. The Parsnip is of historical significance as forming part of the route Alexander MacKenzie took in his epic journey to the Pacific Ocean in 1793. Fish populations and their protozoan and metazoan parasites in the headwater areas of the McGregor River (Pacific drainage) and of
40-579: A name proposed by Brummitt in 1971. According to the Plant List and Plants of the World Online , H. lanatum and H. maximum are both accepted names, the latter with no infraspecific taxa. On the other hand, neither are recognized as accepted names by either the ITIS or NPGS. Besides H. lanatum and H. maximum , various scientific names have been attributed to this species. Synonyms of
60-788: Is also known to be important in the diets of numerous wild animals, especially bears, both grizzly bears and black bears. It is a host plant for the black swallowtail butterfly ( Papilio polyxenes ), short-tailed swallowtail butterfly ( Papilio brevicauda ), old world swallowtail butterfly ( Papilio machaon ), anise swallowtail butterfly ( Papilio zelicaon ), and the moths Eupithecia tripunctaria , Papaipema harrisii , Papaipema impecuniosa , Agonopterix clemensella , Agonopterix flavicomella , and Depressaria pastinacella . The plant contains furanocoumarins such as xanthotoxin , angelicin , pimpinellin and isopimpinellin , isoimperatorin , bergapten and isobergapten , 6‐isopentenyloxyisobergapten , and sphondin . In one study,
80-421: Is commonly confused with Heracleum mantegazzianum (giant hogweed), a much larger plant that typically has purplish spots on the stems, as well as more sharply serrated leaves. Other tall invasive Heracleum species include H. mantegazzianum , H. sosnowskyi , and H. persicum . Other similar species include wild carrot , cow parsley , poison hemlock , wild parsnip , and species of
100-468: Is from Arizona, while Escobaria vivipara var. neo-mexicana is from New Mexico. The term is defined in different ways by different authors. However, the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants , while recognizing that the word "variety" is often used to denote " cultivar ", does not accept this usage. Variety is defined in the code as follows: "Variety (varietas) the category in
120-639: Is nearly identical in size and somewhat similar in appearance, and monkshood , a very toxic flower. In Canada , it is found in every province and territory except Nunavut . It is listed as " Endangered " in Kentucky and "Special Concern" in Tennessee . The plant is also found in Siberia , East Asia , and the Kuril Islands . The species is widely recognized as a valuable pasture plant for cows, sheep, and goats. It
140-452: Is the only member of the genus Heracleum native to North America . It is also known as American cow-parsnip , Satan celery , Indian celery , Indian rhubarb , poison turnip or pushki . Cow parsnip is a tall herbaceous perennial plant, reaching heights of 3 metres (10 feet). The stems are hollow and densely hairy. The leaves are very large, up to 40 centimetres (16 inches) across and divided into three lobes. Cow parsnip has
160-591: The Gulf Coast and a few neighboring states), ranging from the Aleutian Islands and Alaska in the far northwest to Newfoundland on the east coast, extending south as far as California , New Mexico , Kansas , Ohio , and Georgia . It occurs from sea level to elevations of about 2,700 m (9,000 ft). It is especially prevalent in Alaska, where it is often found growing amongst plants like devil's club , which
180-779: The British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority, in a public announcement, suspended engineering studies of the proposed diversion. Hisao P. Arai and Dwight R. Mudry. 1983. Protozoan and Metazoan Parasites of Fishes from the Headwaters of the Parsnip and McGregor Rivers, British Columbia: A Study of Possible Parasite Transfaunation. Canadian. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 40(10): 1676–1684 (1983) 55°10′00″N 123°03′00″W / 55.16667°N 123.05000°W / 55.16667; -123.05000 Heracleum lanatum See text. Heracleum maximum , commonly known as cow parsnip ,
200-479: The Parsnip River (Arctic drainage) were the subject of studies carried out in the 1970s concerning the proposed diversion of waters across the continental divide. Three parasites ( Ceratomyxa shasta , Cryptobia salmositica , and Haemogregarina irkalukpiki ) were identified as posing the greatest threat to the fisheries resources of the immediate area and also to the downstream areas. Based in part on these studies,
220-468: The characteristic flower umbels of the carrot family ( Apiaceae ), blooming from February to September. The umbels can reach 30 cm (12 in) across, flat-topped or rounded, and composed of small white flowers. Sometimes the outer flowers of the umbel are much larger than the inner ones. The seeds are 8–12 millimetres ( 3 ⁄ 8 – 1 ⁄ 2 in) long and 5–8 mm ( 3 ⁄ 16 – 5 ⁄ 16 in) wide. Heracleum maximum
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#1732837480197240-567: The genus Angelica . The Plant List (which was last updated in 2013) classified H. maximum , H. lanatum , and H. sphondylium subsp. montanum as distinct species. According to both the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) or the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS), H. lanatum and H. maximum are synonyms for H. sphondylium subsp. montanum ,
260-420: The grouping previously classified H. lanatum include: Synonyms listed at Plants of the World Online include: As H. lanatum , it is listed as having the variety asiaticum . The genus name Heracleum (from " Heracles ") refers to the very large size of all parts of these plants. The species is native to North America, being distributed throughout most of the continental United States (except
280-430: The plant as a dermatological aid. It could be an ingredient in poultices applied to bruises or sores. A poultice prepared from the roots of cow parsnip was applied to swellings, especially of the feet. The dried stems were used as drinking straws for the old or infirm, or made into flutes for children. An infusion of the flowers can be rubbed on the body to repel flies and mosquitoes . A yellow dye can be made from
300-524: The plant. In terms of taste, texture, and nutrients, the peeled stalks resembled celery, which gave rise to the common name "Indian celery". The natives were aware of the toxic effects of the plant, knowing that if the outer skin were not removed, one would get an "itchy mouth" or blistering skin. Pregnant women were warned away from the flower bud stalks to prevent newborns from asphyxiating when crying. At least seven native groups in North America used
320-413: The rash occurring only after exposure to ultraviolet light. Because of this, phytophotodermatitis causing skin blistering may occur after coming into contact with the sap on a sunny day. The scars and pigmentation from these blisters caused by some Heracleum species can last for months or years. The thick flower stems, coming into season in early summer, can be peeled and eaten cooked when young, as
340-461: The roots. Footnotes Citations Variety (botany) In botanical nomenclature , variety (abbreviated var. ; in Latin : varietas ) is a taxonomic rank below that of species and subspecies , but above that of form . As such, it gets a three-part infraspecific name . It is sometimes recommended that the subspecies rank should be used to recognize geographic distinctiveness, whereas
360-447: The variety rank is appropriate if the taxon is seen throughout the geographic range of the species. The pincushion cactus, Escobaria vivipara , is a wide-ranging variable species occurring from Canada to Mexico, and found throughout New Mexico below about 2,600 metres (8,500 ft). Nine varieties have been described. Where the varieties of the pincushion cactus meet, they intergrade . The variety Escobaria vivipara var. arizonica
380-401: The young leaves did not contain xanthotoxin, but older, senescing leaves contained "substantial amounts". Some of these furanocoumarins found in cow parsnip are known to have antimicrobial properties and are responsible for a rash producing erythematous vesicles (burn-like blisters) and hyperpigmentation that occurs after getting the clear sap onto one's skin. They are photosensitive, with
400-429: Was done by Native Americans. Caution should be taken as the flowers resemble those of the extremely poisonous Cicuta maculata . Indigenous North Americans have had a variety of uses for cow parsnip, often traveling long distances in the spring—80 kilometres (50 miles) or more—to find the succulent plant shoots. The young stems and leafstalks were peeled and usually eaten raw, while early American settlers cooked
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