Flora of PolandSummer

Barszcz Sosnowskiego/Heracle

um sosnowskyi /Sosnowsk

y's HogweedHeracleum

sosnowskyi is a highly invasive plant in

Poland.All parts contain the

intense toxic allergen furanocoumarin. It is

dangerous for humans because even small drops of plant's juice

cause photosensitivity and burns

Heracleum sosnowskyi is up to 3–5 meters in height, with a straight, firm stem that can reach a diameter of 12 cm. The leaves are 50–60 cm long. The root is

very firm, up to 30 cm diameter. The inflorescence is a big umbel found at the end of every stem. It

blooms during July through September and produces tousands of seeds. They are easily distributed by

the wind but especially by the water.

The plant was once common only in the Caucusas area, however due to a decision to

use it as a silage plant it quickly spread in many areas of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. This

decision was made in 1947, under Stalin's rule, so later, when the species proved to be highly invasive

and difficult to remove, people started to call it "Stalin's revenge"

Native to northeastern North

America but established as an invasive plant in

PolandIt is often grown as an ornamental in flower

gardensThe plant is erect,

often forming colonies (1,5 m)

Nawłoć kanadyjska/Solidago canadensis L/Canada goldenrod

Kakol polny/ Agrostemma

githago/the common corn-cockle  It can be found in fields,

roadsides, railway lines, waste places, and other

disturbed areas.In parts of Europe,

intensive mechanised farming has put the plant

at risk and it is now uncommon or locally

distributed. This is partly due to increased use

of herbicides.

Mieczyk błotny/Gladiolus palustris/ Marsh gladiolus 

The flowering period of these plants extends

from May through July

This plant prefer calcareous, moist and humus rich environments

alternately wet and dry, in wet meadows and

forest clearings. Protected in

Poland