Have you ever admired the seemingly harmless wildflowers dotting the roadside, their yellow blooms swaying gently in the breeze? Beware, for beauty can be deceiving; you might be face-to-face with the wild parsnip, a plant whose innocent appearance belies a potent ability to inflict painful burns.

The wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) is a tall, imposing plant, often reaching heights of four feet or more, adorned with clusters of small, yellow flowers arranged in an umbrella-like shape. While its roots, reminiscent of its cultivated cousin, are indeed edible, it's the plant's sap that poses the real danger. This sap contains chemicals called furanocoumarins, substances that render the skin exceptionally vulnerable to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, leading to a condition known as phytophotodermatitis literally, plant-light-induced skin inflammation.

Aspect	Details
Scientific Name	Pastinaca sativa
Common Names	Wild Parsnip, Poison Parsnip
Family	Apiaceae (Carrot Family)
Origin	Native to Europe and Asia; introduced to North America
Life Cycle	Biennial (completes its life cycle in two years)
Habitat	Sunny, open areas: roadsides, pastures, fields, disturbed natural areas, prairies, fens
Identifying Features	Tall plant (up to 4 feet or more) Yellow flowers in umbrella-shaped clusters (umbels) Oblong leaflets with few teeth Hollow stems
Dangers	Sap contains furanocoumarins, causing phytophotodermatitis (severe skin burns upon exposure to sunlight)
Control Methods	Herbicide application Mowing (before seed production) Digging up plants (wear protective clothing) Prescribed burning Planting vigorous native species
Additional Information	Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Pastinaca sativa