Wild Parsnip
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UW-Extension Horticulture Educator Lisa Johnson describes what dangers wild parsnip presents to human and native plants and how to combat it.
Video
Hampton
Iowa Core Standard
MS-LS1-4
Use argument based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support an explanation for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants respectively
Driving Question
- What specialized structures can plants have to become invasive?
Probing Questions
- How can humans and animals help with plant reproduction?
- What causes wild parsnip to grow so well in Iowa ditches?
Classroom Suggestions
Students could:
- Discuss plant reproductive structures while doing a plant dissection.
- Research how different types of plants have different structures; discuss which methods are more successful.
- Collect resources on the impact of successful plant reproduction on the ecosystem.
- Discuss different weeds students find in their yards/communities and what makes them a weed versus a desired plant.
Resources
- Iowa State Extension | Are The 2016 Wild Parsnip Infestations the New Normal For Iowa?: This article describes how the wild parsnip population changes year to year.
- Iowa State Extension | Why Doesn't Iowa Do Something About Wild Parsnip?: This article explains the issues with wild parsnip management.
- Iowa State Extension | Wild Parsnip - A Weed to Watch: This article explains the reproduction process of wild parsnip.
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