Warnings after children burnt by garden plant

BAD WEED: Giant hogweed is a perennial herb which can grow to two metres in height and can cause severe blistering and nasty burns.

Relevant offers

Giant hogweed is a popular plant that can cause severe blistering and nasty burns and leave scars for years, the New Zealand Medical Journal says.

Greater Wellington biosecurity officers issued a warning about the plant yesterday after a woman contacted biosecurity staff saying her children were burnt in their garden in Mauriceville, Wairarapa.

"A lady came to the counter and said: 'My kids have got burns. There's this horrible plant in my backyard, can you do something about it?'," said Jim Flack of the council's Masterton office.

Officers got rid of that plant but suspected there were more in the region. Because it was harmful, the council would come and deal with it free of charge, Mr Flack said.

The giant hogweed, which grows two to five metres tall, is listed on a national pest register, making it illegal to sell, grow or distribute. It is also listed by Landcare Research as poisonous to children.

A 2007 article in the New Zealand Medical Journal said the hogweed caused harm when plant compounds reacted with sunlight on skin, causing a condition called phytophotodermatitis, which could lead to burns and "large fluid-filled blisters" within two days. Purple-black scars could last for months or years.

The symptoms have been mistaken for staphylococcal infections and flesh-eating necrotising fasciitis.

"In some cases, the symptoms of phytophotodermatitis have been mistaken for child abuse," the journal article said.

Brushing against the plant was enough to cause the burns.

One woman had developed phytophotodermatitis after touching her cat, which had been playing in the plant in her garden.

Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) grows to about 2m tall. It has a tall distinctive flower which can grow up to 6m with umbrella-like clusters of green-white flowers.

Anyone who comes into contact with the plant should wash the skin with soap and cold water and protect the skin from sunlight. Symptoms can be treated with ice packs and paraffin gauze dressings.

Anyone who has seen a plant that looks like this or wants help identifying a plant can contact Greater Wellington regional council by phoning 0800 496 734, or by emailing pest.plants@gw.govt.nz

- © Fairfax NZ News