OchrOna ŚrOdOwIska I ZasOBów naturalnych vOl. 28 nO 3(73): 40-44 EnvIrOnmEntal PrOtEctIOn and natural rEsOurcEs 2017 dOI 10.1515 /OsZn-2017-0020 Jarosław Chmielewski*, Jarosław Pobereżny**, Magdalena Florek-Łuszczki***, Ilona Żeber-Dzikowska****, Monika Szpringer***** Sosnowsky’s hogweed – current environmental problem Barszcz sosnowskiego – wciąż aktualny problem środowiskowy *Dr Jarosław Chmielewski - Institute of Environmental Protection-National ***Dr hab. Magdalena Florek-Łuszczki, Institute of Rural Health in Lublin Research Institute, Krucza 5/11d St., 00-548 Warsaw ****Prof. nadzw. Dr hab. Ilona Żeber-Dzikowska, Institute of Biology, The **Dr inż. Jarosław Pobereżny, - Department of Food Technology, Faculty of Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce Agriculture and Biotechnology, UTP University of Science and Technology *****Prof. nadzw. Dr hab. Monika Szpringer, Department of Medicine and in Bydgoszcz Health Sciences, The Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce Keywords: Sosnowsky’s hogweed, invasive plant, environmental threat, health threat Słowa kluczowe: Barszcz Sosnowskiego, roślina inwazyjna, zagrożenie środowiskowe, zagrożenie zdrowotne Abstract Streszczenie Sosnowsky’s hogweed was brought to Poland as a silage plant Barszcz Sosnowskiego został sprowadzony do Polski jako roślina for cattle in the mid-20th century from the Caucasus. It was grown uprawna na paszę dla bydła w połowie XX wieku z Kaukazu. mainly in National Farms. However, the hogweed quickly spread Głównie był hodowany w Państwowych Gospodarstwach across the natural environment. It is a highly invasive plant and Rolnych. Barszcz jednak w krótkim czasie przedostał się do possesses strong burning qualities. Every year many people środowiska naturalnego. Jest rośliną bardzo ekspansywną i suffer from its burns. The hogweed is also dangerous for animals. posiada silne właściwości parzące. Każdego roku poparzonych Being an invasive species, it displaces natural plant species of the zostaje wielu ludzi. Barszcz jest również groźny dla zwierząt. Jako native flora. It can threaten the flora and landscape of a particular gatunek inwazyjny wypiera naturalne gatunki roślinne rodzimej area. The aim of the article is to present the problem including the flory. Może zagrażać florze i krajobrazowi obiektów właściwych frequency of occurrence of Sosnowsky’s hogweed in Poland, to dla danego terenu. Praca ma na celu ukazanie problemu, w show the negative effects for human health and the methods to tym wykazanie skali występowania barszczu Sosnowskiego na fight it in its habitat. terenie Polski, ukazanie negatywnych skutków zdrowotnych dla człowieka oraz metod jego zwalczania w środowisku bytowania. © IOŚ-PIB 1. IntroductIon Sosnowsky’s hogweed (Heracleum Sosnowskyi Mandel L.) is a of burning in summer, among people who came into contact with native Caucasus plant. It was named in honour of a researcher in the plant especially while relaxing by the water [Wróbel, 2008]. the flora of the region professor D.I. Sosnowski by I.P. Modenowa The research conducted by Rzymski et al. in the area of social in 1944 [Kostecka-Mędalska et al., 1963]. awareness of dangerous qualities of the Caucasian hogweeds In Poland it was introduced into cultivation as a silage plant revealed relatively low level of knowledge of the problem. for cattle in the second half of 20th century in National Farms They stated that only 58% of the interviewees had heard of the and by individual farmers. It was also treated as a honey plant dangerous qualities of the plant. The source of information most [Gałczyńska and others 2016]. frequently indicated was the Internet (48%), TV programmes Since the first years of cultivation, Sosnowsky’s hogweed has and school education (28%) and friends (19%) [Rzymski et al., been a source of numerous problems [Lutyńska, 1980] despite 2015]. a considerable amount of produced silage and its plenitude of Sosnowsky’s hogweed’s invasion in the natural environment nutrients (e.g., fats, carbohydrates, etc.). It appeared that the and its negative health consequences to animals and humans cattle were unwilling to eat the silage based on the species due are significant problems, both in the aspect of environmental to its bitter flavour and the smell and taste of the milk and meat protection as well as environmental health; and, as a result, it produced from the cattle that was fed this silage changed, which is required that extensive preventative measures should be considerably decreased their trading value [Wojtkowiak et al., undertaken in the field of health education. Educational actions 2008]. Later, research on the quality of the plant revealed its should be accompanied by the elimination of the plant in its toxic qualities, causing burns both among animals and humans natural habitat. [Wrzesińska et al., 2000]. The aim of the work is to show the frequency of occurrence of The problem of Sosnowsky’s hogweed’s invasion in Poland Sosnowsky’s hogweed in Poland, including identifying methods was noticed in 1990s, which made the farmers withdraw the to fight it in its habitat and negative health consequences for cultivation. At that time, the press reported numerous incidents humans as they are exposed to its effects. 40 Jarosław chmielewski et al. 2. GEnErAL cHArActErISItcS oF tHE and sets seeds for many subsequent years. It has a firm root SPEcIES that is disproportionately long as compared to the aboveground part of the plant. It dies in winters, leaving only dry stems with Sosnowsky’s hogweed is a species native to the Caucasian flora inflorescences that can survive for several years. Its survivability and belongs to the family Apiaceae [Kostecka-Mędalska 1962]. is low with only a few strongest plants surviving from thousands It is one of the four species of hogweed (Heracleum) growing in of young plants. They are best adapted to continue the invasion. Poland. In the case of field crops, the production of seeds reaches 2.6 t Four hogweed species grow in Poland: giant hogweed (Heracleum from a hectare, while one plant produces from 10,000 to 40,000 mantegazzianum), Sosnowsky’s hogweed (Heracleum seeds [Wojtkowiak et al., 2008; Śliwiński, 2012; Krzemkowski, sosnowskyi), common hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium, 1995]. Heracleum sphondylium ssp. sibiricum) [Mirek, 2002]. Both Scientific classification of Sosnowsky’s hogweed is presented Sosnowsky’s hogweed and giant hogweed are ranked into big below [Wojtkowiak et al., 2008]: hogweeds of similar biology [Jahodová, 2007]. Due to their – Domain: Eukaryota similarity, they are commonly referred to with the same name: – Kingdom: Plantae Caucasian hogweeds [Gałczyńska, 2016]. – Subkingdom: Vascular Research proves genetic differences in the two species as some – Superphylum: Spermatophyta of their qualities differ morphologically [Tutin, 1968]; however, – Phylum: Angiospermae for practical reasons and due to the fact that in many studies – Subphylum: Magnoliophyta Sosnowsky’s hogweed and giant hogweed are treated as one, it – Class: Rosopsida has been decided that referring to the individual plants as belonging – Subclass: Cornidae Frohne & U. Jensen ex Reveal to Heracleum sosnowskyi or Heracleum mantegazzianum is of – Superorder: Aralianae no importance. The crucial thing is differentiating them from one – Order: Apiales another, from similar species in the genus Heracleum or from the – Family: Apiaceae family Apiaceae [Muzykiewicz, 2017]. – Genus: Heracleum Due to similarity in the build of Sosnowsky’s hogweed (Heracleum – Species: H. Sosnowskyi sosnowskyi) and giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), the plants are difficult to identify. They both have similar 3. tHE occurrEncE And tHrEAt morphological build. What separates them is the shape of leaves, TO tHE BIodIVErSItY the height of stems and the size of umbels [Rutkowski, 2014]. The characteristic feature of the Caucasian hogweeds is their Sosnowsky’s hogweed is an invasive plant [Domaradzki, size as well as solidity of their leaves, stems and umbels. They 2013]. It is included in the list of foreign species presented in tend to reach the height of 3 metres, sometimes 4−5 metres the Regulation of the Minister of Environment issued on 9th and more [Jakubowska-Busse, 2013; Śliwiński, 2012]. They are September 2011, concerning the list of foreign plant and animal considered one of the biggest herbal plants in the world. A leaf of species that, if released into the natural environment, can pose Sosnowsky’s hogweed can grow up to 2 metres in width [Wróbel, a threat to native species or natural habitats. The invasibility of 2008], the stem can reach the diameter of 8−10 centimetres and Sosnowsky’s hogweed has been proved by research [Stupnicka- the height of 2.5–5 metres [Śliwiński, 2012]. Scientific reports Rodzynkiewicz et al., 1996, Tokarska-Guzik et al. 2012]. from 1970s indicate that coumarine derivatives were released Being an invasive species, it displaces natural plants in their from Heracleum resin substances [Fujita, 1956]. habitats. It behaves like a neophyte. Its attitude to other elements A variety of plant species occurring in the natural environment of an assemblage must be described as edification [Faliński, contain photosensitising substances that can cause phototoxic 1968]. The result of invasion is its constant colonization leading and photoallergic reactions. The plants include Sosnowsky’s to vanishing of local species. The flora of assemblages infested hogweed and giant hogweed [Weryszko-Chmielewska, 2014]. by it is much poorer than the flora of the areas neighbouring