Woodland Angelica
Angelica sylvestris

Name and Family
History
Identification Guide
What it does in the ecosystem
Management
Image Gallery
References

Name and Family

Woodland angelica, Angelica sylvestris, belongs to the family Apiaceae, sometimes referred to as Umbellifera or the carrot family. This group includes a significant number of phototoxic species. The defining characteristic of this family is the inflorescence (flower head), which forms a characteristic “umbel” shape.

History

Woodland angelica is believed to have originated in Syria and is found today throughout Eurasia. The plant is thought to have been introduced to North America as a culinary herb by early French settlers in the 17th or 18th century. It may have been brought to PEI as a hitchhiker on a motor vehicle. The plant has been used medicinally in the past for the treatment of numerous gastric disorders. A powder made from ground seeds was used to prevent and treat lice infestations. Woodland angelica has been used in Greenland, Finland, Sweden, and many other European nations in cooking. The roots, leaves, and stems can all be used in the kitchen after proper processing. (NOTE: The PEIISC does not promote or support the medicinal or culinary use of woodland angelica.)

Identification Guide

Here are some key features that may help to positively identify Woodland Angelica:

A robust plant, growing up to 2m tall
Stem is bamboo-like, sparsely branched, smooth with fine hairs on the upper portion, and often has purple joints
Flowers are white to lilac-tinged, and form in clusters on umbrella-like flower heads
Leaves are large and pinnately compound. Leaflets are ovate with toothed edges, sometimes lobed (terminal leaf usually unlobed)
Reproduction occurs solely by seed
Present in Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI
Woodland Angelica has several lookalikes on PEI, including its relatives Purple-stemmed Angelica (Angelica atropurpurea) and Seaside Angelica (Angelica lucida), and fellow invasive, Common Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)

What it does in the ecosystem

Woodland angelica will tolerate full sunlight or full shade, but prefers moist soils. It is often found growing in disturbed roadside habitats, forest edges and open moist areas. It quickly spreads, displacing native species. It provides little benefit to native wildlife, and is a public health concern.

CAUTION! Woodland angelica contains a toxin that can cause irritation when it contacts skin and is exposed to sunlight (ultraviolet light). Management is undertaken at your own risk.

Skin contact with the sap of woodland angelica can produce a nasty burn.
- A compound in the sap (furanocoumarins) reacts with light and skin to cause severe burns, blistering, and eventually dark scarring.
- The sap is most abundant in the lower stem but can be found in all plant parts. Extreme caution should be exercised if you are working near woodland angelica due to this health risk. Never touch the plant with bare skin or skin covered in absorbent fabric.
- Wildlife and livestock can also be subject to the burns. This means that habitat and pastureland can be degraded in affected areas, as animals will have to avoid the woodland angelica.
- Burns can cause long-term sensitivity to sunlight in the affected area for several years after the initial burn.
- Purplish or white scars may form that last for many years.

When controlling woodland angelica, the following should be worn:
- Tyvek coveralls
  - Alternatively, two layers of non-absorbent clothing that completely covers the skin.
- Face shield
- Waterproof gloves
- Sunscreen
- Rubber boots (steel-toe if possible)
- Non-absorbent long-sleeve shirt, and long pants (synthetic fabrics).
Tape any gaps in clothing with waterproof tape.
You should have a water source nearby to wash your skin in case of accidental contact with the plant.

Management

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

Woodland angelica can now be found in each Maritime Province, Quebec, and Ontario. If you spend any time in Southeastern PEI during the summer you have likely seen woodland angelica. This robust plant grows in large swathes, entirely filling ditches along Route 4 from High Bank to Murray River and many other roads in Kings County. The plant has begun to spread westward with increasing reports in central PEI. This means that efforts to manage the plant may be frustrated by another patch of woodland angelica growing down the road or in your neighbour’s ditch. Before selecting a control method, consider the size of the infestation, your available resources, and the amount of effort you are willing to expend. Often, multiple control methods are used simultaneously. Consider also the local ecosystem and what other organisms or ecological processes may be affected by management.

If managing an invasive species near a watercourse or waterbody, you are required to obtain a Watercourse, Wetland and Buffer Zone Activity Permit from the PEI Department of Environment, Energy, and Climate Action. This permit should be applied for at least six weeks before beginning management activities to allow for processing time. It is unlawful to apply herbicides when near a watercourse or waterbody on PEI.

PROPER ID IS KEY

First and foremost, it is important to be sure that you have properly identified woodland angelica. It has a long list of lookalikes, and some are toxic. These include the toxic invasive plants wild parsnip and giant hogweed, as well as the native, but fatally poisonous, spotted water hemlock. If you are having trouble with identification, our team is happy to help. Native lookalikes include seaside angelica, purple-stemmed angelica, and cow parsnip. These three plants should be left alone, as they are components of a healthy native landscape.

TOXICITY

When handling woodland angelica, it is important to consider its toxicity. A cousin of giant hogweed, woodland angelica is known to contain phototoxic sap. When the plant is damaged, this sap is released. If the sap comes in contact with the skin, the exposed area will become highly sensitive to UV light. If the affected area is exposed to sunlight, it produces a reaction that results in a bad sunburn, blistering, redness, and itchiness. In severe cases, hospitalization may be necessary. Protective gear should be worn when handling woodland angelica, including eye protection, face shields, thick waterproof gloves, non-absorbent long-sleeve shirt, pants, and rubber boots. Reusable waterproof gear like a rain jacket and rain pants can be worn. A disposable Tyvek suit can be worn, which provides the best coverage and makes things simple when removing gear at the end of the day. Apply sunscreen and stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible during management to prevent the UV reaction from happening if you have possibly come into contact with the sap. If you develop a reaction, seek medical attention immediately.

TIMING

Woodland angelica is a short-lived, monocarpic plant, which means that plants die after going to seed. The plant has two distinct life stages. In its immature state, it exists as a rosette of leaves with a small central stalk. When the plant matures, a larger central stalk is sent up. The plant becomes more noticeable at this stage, as it is taller and forms a flower head from July until the end of summer.

If managing this plant after seed heads have formed, carefully remove and bag seed heads first to avoid seed dispersal during management.

DIGGING/PULLING

Physical removal of small patches of plants by digging or hand pulling (in moist soil) can be an effective means of control. Remove the entire root, as the plant can regrow from its roots. Beginning management early in the growing season, before flowers form is ideal.

MOWING

Mechanical controls such as mowing are ineffective in killing the plant immediately, as woodland angelica can regrow from its root system. Regular repeated mowing will effectively stop the plant from going to seed, and will thus reduce spread. Mowing unfortunately makes woodland angelica seed germination more successful due to the lack of competition from other species that were also mowed down. You will need to exhaust the seed bank (which is thought to be short lived) through repeated mowing efforts. Keep in mind if there are other woodland angelica plants nearby, these could spread seed into the management area, meaning management may be a continual task. If all are mowed in an area the population may begin to weaken, as long as it is a consistent effort over years.

Mowing will unfortunately create an opportunity for exposure to the toxic sap, so you would certainly want to wear protective clothing and ideally, you would want to use a mower with some kind of cab (avoid whipper snipping). If you have a large outbreak, mowing may be the only reasonable option. Keep any people and animals out of the area for an extended period after mowing, as sap released into the area may still cause burns.

COVERING

After physical removal, you can “go the extra mile” by covering the infested area with a thick dark tarp. This will “solarize” any new growth, overheating it and starving it of light. The tarp can also be covered with 8” of topsoil and replanted with desirable drought-tolerant native plants.

CHEMICAL CONTROL

Chemical control methods exist, but the PEIISC does not offer advice on chemical control measures at this time. If using chemical controls, all local legislation and manufacturer’s instructions must be followed during application.

Follow-up and Disposal

As with most invasive plants, return visits to the site after management and in subsequent growing seasons will be required to eradicate woodland angelica completely. Each time you manage the site, collect, bag, mark, and dispose of all plant parts with your usual residential waste collection. Never dispose of invasive plants in the compost.Clean and remove all plant parts from any equipment, clothing, or vehicles before leaving the site to prevent spread. Hose off your gear and wash with soapy water. Care must be taken when cleaning equipment contaminated with toxic sap to prevent exposure. Remove clothing carefully with help from another person to avoid touching contaminated parts.