Heracleum L - Hogweeds

Perennial, biennial or annual herbs. Leaves pinnately divided, usually with broad segments. Umbels compound; bracts 0; bracteoles several. Calyx teeth minute or obsolete, unequal; petals white (sometimes flushed with pink, especially in bud), often markedly unequal and radiate, those on the outer margin of the umbel being much larger than those on the inside, the whole umbel therefore tending to function like a capitulum in attracting insects, although the individual flowers remain quite distinct. Fruit orbicular to broadly obovate, very strongly dorsally compressed, with a broad commissure. Marginal ridges expanded to form a broad wing, the dorsal ones filiform; wings somewhat thickened and closely appressed to those of the opposing mericarp.

Worldwide: c. 60 species in the temperate northern hemisphere and mountainous areas in Africa.

Malawi: 1 taxon.