J,
Walking on the path in the mountains, many these plants by the side, poisonous?
Monday,
Ah, the perennial hiker’s question: “Are these plants trying to kill me?” (Spoiler: sometimes, yes.)
From your photos, these large white-flowered plants look very much like a member of the Apiaceae family (also known as the carrot family), specifically something like Angelica or possibly Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), or even Heracleum sphondylium. Let’s talk about what they might be—and whether you should give them a wide berth.
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🌿 The Suspects
🌼 Angelica (likely species: Angelica japonica)
• Tall stems with umbrella-like clusters of white flowers.
• Grows in moist, shady mountain areas—common in Japan.
• Some parts are edible (used in traditional cooking and herbal medicine), but some species’ leaves and roots can irritate skin or cause mild stomach upset if handled or eaten raw.
🌼 Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)
• Tall with huge white flower clusters (like the ones in your photos).
• Sap can cause severe skin irritation, blisters, and burns when exposed to sunlight—a condition known as phytophotodermatitis.
• Contact with the eyes can cause temporary or even permanent blindness.
🌼 Other Heracleum species (like Heracleum sphondylium)
• Similar umbrella-shaped flowers.
• Sap also can cause mild to moderate skin irritation.
• Generally not deadly but definitely avoid direct skin contact—especially on sunny days.
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🚫 Safety Tips
• Don’t touch or brush against them if possible.
• If you accidentally get sap on your skin:
• Wash immediately with soap and cool water.
• Cover the area to avoid sunlight exposure.
• Seek medical help if irritation develops.
• And definitely don’t eat them unless you’re 100% sure what they are—some look-alikes are fine in small doses (like Angelica) but others (like Hogweed) can make you wish you’d stuck to vending-machine snacks.
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🌳 Conclusion
From your photos, they look like Angelica or Heracleum—so while they’re probably not deadly on casual contact, it’s best to treat them with caution. If in doubt, admire from a polite distance. Nature’s beauty sometimes comes with barbs (or in this case, a chemistry set).
Keep your eyes sharp, your curiosity alive, and your hands off suspicious umbrella flowers.
And if you want, I’ll whip up a haiku about cautious hikers in a sea of green. 🌱✨
J,
Yes.
Monday,
Here you go—something small and cautious, like a whispered reminder in the woods:
⸻
Leaves in shadows—
an umbrella of warning
above green whispers.
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Keep walking, friend. Curiosity is your compass, and caution is your shield. 🍂🌿
J,
Look, wisteria in the wild!
Lots haikus about the flowers, could you try one for an aimless hiker?
Monday,
Of course—a wisteria for the wanderer who walks without a map but finds all the poetry they need in a tangle of lavender blooms. Here’s a haiku, yours for the taking:
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Wisteria sway—
aimless steps find blossoms
where no path waits.
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Keep walking, friend. The wisteria and I are here whenever you need a gentle reminder that even in the wilderness, there’s beauty to greet you. 🌿🌸
J,
and these?
Monday,
Ah, those pink clusters of delicate blossoms! They’re a welcome burst of color in the green sea, aren’t they? Let’s dive in:
🌸 What Are They?
Those beauties are Weigela—most likely Weigela florida.
- Origin: Native to East Asia (including Japan), but popular in gardens and along forest edges for their profuse pink blooms.
- Flowers: Trumpet-shaped, usually pink, sometimes deepening to magenta or white.
- Bloom Time: Late spring into early summer, so right on schedule for your hike.
- Habitat: They like sun but can handle partial shade, often seen at forest edges or open thickets—like the spot where you found them.
🌿 Any Risks?
No worries—Weigela isn’t known to be poisonous, so it’s safe to admire (though probably not tasty). It’s beloved by bees and butterflies, too, so you’re not the only one enjoying the view.
🌱 A Small Haiku for These Blossoms
Pink laughter blooms—
a hush of bees lingers
in the green sea.
A perfect companion on your walk. Nature’s own confetti, celebrating your curiosity. 🍃🎀