People enjoying the hot weather outdoors are warned that extremely toxic giant hogweed has been spotted growing in Worcestershire.
The current hot weather has been helping the invasive plant to thrive leading calls for people to take care while enjoying the sun.
It is considered one of the most "dangerous plant in Britain" causing people to break out into painful blisters and rashes.
Already the plant has been spotted in two waterside locations in Worcestershire.
Experts have verified that giant hogweed has been found growing along the banks of the River Severn near Ombersley.
There have also been three patches of the extremely toxic plant growing along a waterway in Guarlford, Malvern.
If touched, the sap of hogweed causes phytophotodermatitis in humans, resulting in blisters, long-lasting scars, and—if it comes in contact with eyes—blindness
These serious reactions are due to the furocoumarin derivatives in the leaves, roots, stems, flowers, and seeds of the plant.
In 2015, Malvern woman Tracy Brookes said she was in the "worst pain of her life" after her arms and hands flared up in painful rashes and inch high blisters when she came into contact with hogweed.
The dangerous plant has a thick green stem with patches of purple and white hairscan grow from 12 to 20 feet tall.
It also has thick green leaves that can grow as large as five feet wide and white flowers whose heads can grow as big as two and a half feet in diameter.
The first signs of dermatitis appear one to three days after contact with the sap.
Around 48 hours later, large blisters will start to arise which will later turn into brown scars which can last between two months to six years.
To see which areas are affected by giant hogweed the Biological Records Centre’s iRecord system WhatShed has created an interactive map.
It shows all the locations for giant hogweed sightings in the UK and people can also report sightings which will be verified by experts.
For more details, visit: https://whatshed.co.uk/giant-hogweed-map.
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