Cow parsley - or something else?

[Mellifera Crofter]

Today, in a short period between spells of mizzle, my bees were out in force foraging on the cow parsley - or what I thought was cow parsley, but I'm not so sure now. I think the leaves are far too big and, looking around on the internet, the flowers look more like hemlock. Can somebody please tell me what they are? They're all over Aberdeenshire at the moment.

Do the bees usually forage on them, or are they just desperate again?

Kitta

IMG_4076_cr.jpg IMG_4073.jpg IMG_4078.jpg

[Julian]

The second image is a collection of different members of the Umbelliferae family (carrot family), the third image is Hog Weed (a member of the carrot family) and the first image I'm not sure (cannot see the leaves and stem) but it’s not Hog Weed as the flowers are too large.

Hope that helps.

[gavin]

It seems possible that they are all hogweed - Heracleum sphondylium rather than the giant invasive one, H mantegazzianum. I've seen bees collecting pollen from them, but as far as I know there is no nectar to be had. I once looked at a honey sample for a lady in SW England and it had wild carrot pollen in it, a related species.

[chris]

We have loads of wild carrot here, and the bees work it for pollen, though it flowers a bit later (August) when there is a smaller choice of wild flowers available.I've never seen them collecting nectar from it. I gather it for the rabbits as well. My way of recognizing it is to look at the centre of the mass of tiny white flowers- there is always just one of a different colour-looks a bit like an insect working it.

[Mellifera Crofter]

Thank you Julian, Gavin and Chris - I'm learning.

I don't know how Julian guessed different kinds in the second picture, but he might be right. I've just been back to have a look. I now think there are some that look like cow parsley, and some that look like hogweed (like the one with the bee on it in yesterday's pictures). The bees seem to prefer the hogweeds.

Browsing on the internet I became confused between hogweed and cow parsnip - is there a difference? I've taken some more pictures and will upload them later when I have time.

Kitta

[gavin]

Cow parsley is a more spreading plant with more dissected leaves and widely branching inflorescences. Devoid of hairs as far as I remember.

Hogweed is quite stocky and robust with stiff hairs all over and more solid platforms for the insects which have a touch of pink in them, missing from cow parsley. Tends to flower later too.

There are many other wild umbels, some quite tasty such as sweet cicely, and some such as hemlock which are, well, not worth nibbling. Some vegetables crops (carrot, parsnip, Florence fennel) and many herbs and spices come from this family.