Heracleum
(Heracleon, the old Greek name of the plant; so called in honour of Heracles, or Hercules). Cow Parsley; Cow Parsnip. ORD. Umbelliferae. A genus comprising about seventy species of strong, coarse-growing, hardy biennial or perennial herbs, from the mountains of Central and Southern Europe, and especially Asia, with a single North American one. Flowers white; the petals of the outer ones of each umbel larger. Leaves dissected, with large segments. Although long known to cultivation, Heracleums are not possessed of any very special recommendations. They are best adapted for growing in shrubberies, rough parts of pleasure grounds, or on the margins of water, being too coarse for the flower garden. They succeed in almost any kind of soil. Increased readily by seeds, or by divisions. The species are much confused. H. giganteum (gigantic). A synonym of H. villosum.
H. setosum (bristly). l. ternate; leaflets petiolate, distantly five-lobed; lobes dentate. Stem, petioles, and leaves hispid. South Europe. H. sibiricum (Siberian). fl. yellowish, not radiating; umbels large. Summer. l. pinnate, rough from hairs; leaflets ovate or oblong. h. 5ft. to 6ft. Europe, Asia, 1789.
H. villosum (villose). fl. white; umbels many-rayed. l. pinnatifid, deeply toothed. Stem 10ft. to 12ft. high. Caucasus, 1820. This species has, of late years, been extensively cultivated, on account of its large size and commanding appearance. SYN. H. giganteum.