As every year, at this time, the media publish ominous warnings against Sosnowski's "deadly" borscht.Is this just a fantasy of editors who need flashy headlines in the cucumber season, or is there a threat in the form of this impressive plant?
There are actually two plants: Sosnowski's borscht and Mantegazzi's borscht. They generally reach a height of about 3 m, but can grow up to 5 m.Huge leaf rosettes are about 1.5 m² in size. The hand-thick stalks are grooved and flecked with purple flecks, empty inside. White or pale pinkish umbellate inflorescences take the shape of giant umbrellas (the largest - located on the main stem - up to 50-70 cm in diameter) and emit a characteristic coumarin smell.
While Caucasian borscht is almost identical to each other, they differ significantly in size from other similar-looking plants. The key here is not so much their height as their massiveness. The flowers, stems and leaves of these species are much more powerful than those of other similar-looking plants, e.g. borscht.
Caucasian borscht, although impressing with its majestic appearance and thus attracting the attention of tourists and nature lovers, are very dangerous.These are invasive alien species, i.e. those that were introduced into our flora by humans, then settled in a new area and began to spread wild to such an extent that they displace native vegetation.
How is this possible?Caucasian hogweed owe its enormous invasive potential to the fact that they "feel" better in our lands than in their homeland. They produce a lot of seeds (on average tens of thousands per one plant), they germinate earlier than many other plants (which means that they quickly overshadow their competitors, taking away their growth opportunities) and have an above-average vitality.
The origin of the borscht
Borscht: Sosnowski and giants were brought to Poland from the Caucasus. The first was to be a feed base for cattle raised in state farms. However, the experiment ended in failure. The animals were reluctant to eat the silage prepared from borscht, and in the meantime the toxic properties of the species were revealed.
As a result, cultivation was abandoned, but the plants were not completely destroyed. Borscht scattered near the fields and began a wild expansion.Beekeepers also contributed to the spread of the species.This plant turned out to be very honey-bearing and found amateurs among artisanal honey producers.
Caucasian borscht - expansive species
According to the Laboratory of Applied Plant Ecology at WSEiZ, there is no voivodeship in Poland free from the invasions of Caucasian hogweed. The research carried out in 2012-2013 shows that every fifth commune is struggling with this problem.These plants are most often found in wastelands, surrounded by arable fields, roads, courses and water reservoirs.
More and more often they can also be found in cities (including Warsaw, Krakow). Where are they coming from?Perhaps someone enchanted with the appearance of the plant decided to sow it in his garden.Maybe he brought an inflorescence with seeds in his autumn bouquet, and those lost along the way were planted in a new place. Perhaps they were delivered with the ground for the construction of the house.
Or maybe the city, expanding its territory, annexes the adjacent areas, once used for the cultivation of borscht.There are many ways of expansion of these species, and thus the probability that we will eventually meet them near our place of residence, work or leisure increases.
First aid
It is best to avoid contact with Caucasian borscht - not only not to touch them, but also not to spend time in their environment (on hot summer days, borscht juice can evaporate and settle on our skin, even if we do not have direct contact with this plant).However, if we touch leaves, stems or flowers, we must wash the skin with soap and protect it from sunlight for the next few days.
If, however, blisters appear on our body or we notice other disturbing symptoms, see a doctor as soon as possible and tell him about contact with dangerous borscht.
Beware of toxic juice!
In addition to the negative impact on the native flora, Caucasian hogweed also poses a threat to the he alth (and sometimes even to life) of humans and animals.The sap of these plants contains toxic substances (furocoumarins), which primarily reduce the skin's resistance to UV radiation.
This is why, if we have been in contact with borscht juice on a sunny summer day, even 1-2 days later, redness and blisters may appear on our skin. These substances can also cause severe irritation to the respiratory system and sometimes even anaphylactic shock. Moreover, furocoumarins are increasingly recognized as carcinogenic compounds.
