FLORA OF ICELAND elements: Heracleum mantegazzianum, Giant Hogweed, Tröllahvönn

Heracleum mantegazzianum; The giant hogweed is a bi-annual plant tall herbaceous plant that can grow up to more than 2m.
  - The large leaves are single to dubble pinate. Characteristic is that the stems have red spots.
  - The large flower umbels are in one spherical plane.
  - It is - like Heracleum persicum - an introduced exotic Caucasian species that has settled on Iceland. It is most found around human settlements.
  - It is a member of the Carrot family ( Apiaceae formerly known as Umbelliferae). The Icelandic name of this species is Bjarnarkló and Tröllahvönn.

  - A personal note: I saw this plant while walking through the woodlands of Thörsmörk. Being a visitor I had a dilemma: should I tear out this plant because it is a non-Icelandic, strongly invasive species or should I - as a humble guest to the land - leave it. Having contacted Icelandic authorities I learned the local park warden was ordered to remove it immediately....