cow parsnip

noun

: a tall biennial or perennial herb (genus Heracleum and especially H. sphondylium of Eurasia and H. maximum synonym H. lanatum of North America) of the carrot family that has a hollow stem, thick taproot, and large clusters of usually white-flowered umbels see also giant cow parsnip

Examples of cow parsnip in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On an afternoon walk through the Alaska Botanical Garden in East Anchorage, Monterusso pointed out blue and purple monkshood plants, and also a few other common plants in Alaska that can cause problems for the unaware, such as devil’s club and cow parsnip. — Annie Berman, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Aug. 2023 Other plants that look similar include poison hemlock (which is toxic if ingested) as well as wild parsnip, cow parsnip, and Queen Anne’s lace, all of which can cause skin reactions—although typically not nearly as severe as those caused by giant hogweed. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 24 Aug. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cow parsnip was in 1548

Rhymes for cow parsnip

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“Cow parsnip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cow%20parsnip. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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