First observation in the wild:	1938
Invasion stage:	spread
Spatial distribution:	widespread

Reproduction in the wild:	yes
Dispersion potential:	high
Natural habitats:	high

More on invasiveness: The giant hogweed inhabits moist and nutrient rich soils in ruderal places, along roadsides, riverbanks and forest margins, in abandoned or neglected grasslands and in tall-herb communities. It is poorly represented in old successional stages but can occur in open alluvial forests. It usually invades sites with a low management intensity. Seeds are usually dispersed in the vicinity of mother plants except when growing near rivers. In that case, they may be transported over several kilometers.

Predation / Herbivory:	low
Competition:	high
Disease transmission:	low
Genetic effects:	unknown

Nutrient cycling:	unlikely
Physical alteration:	medium
Natural successions:	medium
Food web alteration:	low

More on impacts: The enormous height and leaf area of the giant hogweed enable it to overtop most indigenous herbaceous plant species typical of early stages of natural successions. It may form dense population that absorb up to 80% of the incoming light and outcompete most light demanding species. However, its abundance decreases in old successional stages due to competition with trees. Besides the ecological problems, tall invasive hogweed species also represent a serious health hazard for humans. The plant exudes a clear watery sap, which contains several photosensitizing furanocoumarins. In contact with the human skin and in combination with ultraviolet radiation, these compounds cause severe burnings of the skin.

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