Wild Parsnip

UW-Extension Horticulture Educator Lisa Johnson describes what dangers wild parsnip presents to human and native plants and how to combat it.

• What specialized structures can plants have to become invasive? 

• How can humans and animals help with plant reproduction? 
• What causes wild parsnip to grow so well in Iowa ditches?

Students could:

• Discuss plant reproductive structures while doing a plant dissection.
• Research how different types of plants have different structures; discuss which methods are more successful.
• Collect resources on the impact of successful plant reproduction on the ecosystem.
• Discuss different weeds students find in their yards/communities and what makes them a weed versus a desired plant. 

• Iowa State Extension | Are The 2016 Wild Parsnip Infestations the New Normal For Iowa?: This article describes how the wild parsnip population changes year to year.
• Iowa State Extension | Why Doesn't Iowa Do Something About Wild Parsnip?: This article explains the issues with wild parsnip management.
• Iowa State Extension | Wild Parsnip - A Weed to Watch: This article explains the reproduction process of wild parsnip.