"People should be very concerned about handling it," said Marian Munro.

 "I warn people about it because of the health concerns."

 According to a new information sheet about the plant released by the provincial government, sap from the giant hogweed can cause severe skin problems and even blindness.

 "Ultraviolet radiation activates compounds in the sap resulting in severe burns when exposed to the sun. Symptoms occur within 48 hours and consist of painful blisters. Purplish scars may form that last for many years. Eye contact with the sap may cause temporary or permanent blindness."

 The plant can grow over five metres tall and has an umbrella-shaped head of a metre or more wide resembling Queen Anne's lace.

 A perennial member of the carrot family originally from Asia, the invasive, alien species is believed to have been introduced as a garden plant in North America many years ago and has since been declared a noxious weed in some areas.

 "Because it's so new here, we're still struggling to find out how much there is and what we should do about it," said Ms Munro.

 The earliest record of giant hogweed in Nova Scotia is from Alexander Graham Bell's garden in Baddeck.

 "But some people may be helping it spread by planting it in their yards."

 Current known locations of the plant include Metro, the Annapolis Valley, Cape Breton and, at least until recently, Lunenburg County.

 "During the past three summers my husband has been clearing the brush at the rear of our property to increase our lawn area," said an e-mail from Chelsea's Erika Mosher.

 "He cleared a section near the woods that had previously been untouched and within a week, we noticed a plant had sprouted and was approximately one foot in height that had a resemblance to rhubarb."

 They left it undisturbed and it grew rapidly.

 "After a week and a half it had grown to be approximately four and a half feet high so we began searching on the internet to try to identify the plant. Once we felt we had the correct species, we got in touch and sent photos to Memorial University and had it confirmed."

 By the time the giant hogweed was removed, it had grown about 10-feet high in less than a month.

 "The internet was our main source of information. Unfortunately, there are no government bodies appointed to look after this species of plant in Nova Scotia, to our knowledge. We phoned any and all departments we could think of and did not receive any help nor could anyone provide any information on safe removal methods or how to properly dispose of the plant," said Ms Mosher.

 "Had we not found the information we needed on the internet regarding the potential health hazards of this plant, one or both of us could have been seriously affected. The only resources we had available to us were the Invasive Species Alliance of Nova Scotia [and a professor at Memorial University]," she said in another e-mail.

 "The Department of Agriculture from Kentville was not interested in learning of its whereabouts, did not offer any information or resources and directed me to another not-for-profit organization that did not have any 'interest' in the plant."

 Last week, the Department of Agriculture referred a media inquiry to Department of Natural Resources spokeswoman Susan Mader-Zinck.

 "What I can tell you from the department perspective is that if staff receive any more inquiries regarding giant hogweed we will advise the person that they should contact a local landscaping company to have a professional confirm what the plant is and suggest what action should be taken."

 Since then, the provincial government has posted information about the giant hogweed on-line and released a fact sheet which warns anyone who comes in contact with the plant to contact a regional poison centre and asks the public report known locations of it.

 Ms Munro said anyone who has one or more of these plants on their property should have it removed.

 "But I have to caution people they should have it removed with the advice of a landscaper, someone who has the proper safety clothing, gloves and can chop it down, bag it and bake it. It can be incinerated, but not in a home burn barrel because the smoke is toxic and can damage your lungs permanently."

 Furthermore, people in an area where one giant hogweed has been removed should probably be on the lookout for others.

 "If there was one plant there, chances are there are more."

 Seeds may take several years to germinate, are viable in the soil for up to 15 years and have the potential to rapidly spread.

 "Each plant can produce up to 100,000 winged seeds - typically 50,000 - that can float for three days before becoming waterlogged and sinking," said the fact sheet.

 "The seeds are spread by wind but can travel much longer distances via water transport in ditches and streams."

 For more information, check on-line at http://www.gov.ns.ca/natr/wildlife/biodiversity/default.asp.