Ability to Respond Total:5 / 25Ability to Respond = ( Ease of Response + Tools in Place )
Confidence:Medium
Confidence Notes:
Impact
Spread
Notes
Score
Spread Rate
Has spread in wet and shaded areas of Oregon and Washington. Not yet in California.
3
Spread Amount
Limited to riparian and shaded areas.
2
Damage
Notes
Score
Ecological
The density of populations may vary from sparse growth to dominant stands. Its enormous height and leaf area enable plants to overtop most indigenous plant species.
2
Agricultural
0
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
0
Health
The plant is a serious health hazard for humans because it exudes a clear watery sap, which contains several photosensitizing agents (furanocoumarins or furocoumarins) which in combination with daylight cause burnings of the skin.
4
Benefit
Notes
Score
Ecological
0
Agricultural
0
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
0
Health
0
Total
11
Ability to Respond
Ease of Response
Notes
Score
Detection
The plant resembles the native Heracleum lanatum, but is much larger and more virulent. It would be expected that invasion would not be recognized at first because of the similarity.
3
Control
Because of the location of the plant, access to the infestations would be difficult. Furthermore, the plant would not be easily recognized until it was very large and control would be more difficult at this stage.
