Jack,

Giant Hogweed, also known as Cartwheel Flower and Cow Parsnip
(Heracleum mantegazzianum, also Elaeagnus umbellata) is member of the
Apiaceae, or Parsley family -- that used to be named Umbelliferae.
Like many members of the family, it has toxic properties that render
it dangerous -- in its case, an irritating sap that can cause nasty
blisters and/or blindness. It is listed as an invasive and noxious
weed by the USDA. It does seem to have originated in China, but it's
invasive properties could easily have led to its spreading to the
Caucasus.

At the time I was writing, I was unaware of any culinary value to the
plant, so it is not included in the book. The seeds of many members of
the family are used as spices (ajowan, anise, caraway, celery, cumin,
dill, fennel, of course -- and carrot seeds have a lovely warm,
caraway-like flavor as well). If you are planning on experimenting
with its seeds, I'd be very careful to protect yourself from the sap
and spines -- and, by all means, do some more research beforehand. The
excitement of such culinary adventures has its limits...

One of the curses of writing a book like this is that the research has
to end sometime -- and there's always something that comes up right
after it goes to print. The flip-side is that, just by writing the
book, people come forward with all the things you wish you had known
earlier!

Thanks for the head's-up -- I'll see what I can find out about it.

Gary

On Jul 22, 5:40 am, Jack Campin - bogus address
wrote:

Did you include giant hogweed, the one I asked about last week?