# wild parsnip (*Pastinaca sativa*) Wild parsnip is a tall plant with bright yellow flowers that bloom in the summer. It grows in fields and along roadsides, and its leaves look like big green hands reaching out. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Snaps:** 10 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![wild parsnip](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pastinaca_sativa_vallee-de-grace-amiens_80_21072007_4.jpg&width=800) Photo: Olivier Pichard, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pastinaca_sativa_vallee-de-grace-amiens_80_21072007_4.jpg) ## Appearance The wild parsnip is a tall plant with sturdy, grooved stems that can sometimes have reddish-purple patches. It has clusters of small, five-petaled yellow flowers arranged in flat-topped, umbrella-like formations. Its compound leaves have saw-toothed edges, making it distinct from the white flowers of similar plants like Queen Anne's Lace. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Apiales - **Family:** Apiaceae - **Genus:** Pastinaca ## Interesting facts - Its wild ancestor is the very same plant species as the parsnips you can eat! - Some specialized insects, like the parsnip webworm, can munch on it without getting sick! - The cooked root of a wild parsnip tastes sweet, like a mix of carrot and potato! - The plant was brought from Europe to North America by early European settlers centuries ago. ## Special abilities - **Light Activated Defense:** Wild parsnip has sap that reacts with sunlight, causing skin irritation to protect itself from predators. - **Rooty Reservoir:** Wild parsnip has a long, thick taproot that stores energy, helping it survive and regrow. - **Seed Spreader:** Wild parsnip produces thousands of lightweight seeds that can travel far on the wind to find new homes. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 50-150 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** High - **Lifecycle:** Biennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees collect nectar and pollen from its flowers. - **Pollinates:** Common Wasp (*Vespula vulgaris*) — Wasps visit the flowers to feed on nectar. - **Eats:** Parsnip Webworm (*Depressaria pastinacella*) — Larvae feed on its flowers and developing seeds. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/biennial): Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Toxic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/toxic): Toxic organisms contain substances that are poisonous and can cause adverse effects upon exposure. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Avoid touching wild parsnip, as its sap can cause skin irritation. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify wild parsnip? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is wild parsnip? 50-150 cm ### How wide does wild parsnip spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on wild parsnip? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does wild parsnip bloom? Summer ### Is wild parsnip edible? Yes ### Is wild parsnip toxic? High ### What is wild parsnip's lifecycle? Biennial ## Where to spot - [Bixby State Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bixby-state-preserve) — Iowa, US · Nature Reserve - [Bristol Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bristol-downtown-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [Miami Whitewater Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/miami-whitewater-forest) — Ohio, US · Park - [Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/midewin-national-tallgrass-prairie) — Illinois, US · Forest - [Virginville](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/virginville) — Pennsylvania, US · Neighborhood - [Cherry Springs State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cherry-springs-state-park) — Pennsylvania, US · State Park [View all places to see wild parsnip](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/wild-parsnip) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Wild Parsnip: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wild-parsnip)