Wild Parsnip at Murphy

[Shorty]

The wild parsnip is starting to flower at Murphy. It is bad stuff... the oils contain a phototoxin that will cause burn-like blistering when exposed to visible light or UV light (so even on cloudy days). These blisters sometimes become dark spots on the skin that last months or even years - I still one on my hand from last summer.

Wild Parsnip likes full sunlight, so you'll see it in the open/prairie sections of the trail.

There is also a lot of poison-ivy and prickly ash along the trail.

More reasons to stay on the trail!!

Here are some pics of Wild Parsnip:
http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/data/542/medium/WParsnip2.jpg

http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/data/542/medium/WParsnip1.jpg

And some info on it from the MN DNR:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/herbaceous/wildparsnip.html

If you like gross medical stuff, do a Google image search on "Phytophotodermatitis" :sick:

[Shorty]

Bump...

I haven't seen any in the first prairie (easy loop, and parts of the intermediate loop), but you'll see it in the prairies in the south end of the area (advanced trail).

Unfortunately, there are two different yellow flowers out at Murphy. The vertical, linear yellow flowers aren't an issue (as far as I know).

The ones you want to avoid are the type that look like a bunch of small, yellow umbrellas (compound umbel).