Heracleum sphondylium, Heracleum australe, Heracleum sibiricum,
SE: Björnloka, björnfloka, sibirisk björnloka,
DE: Wiesen-Bärenklau, Gemeine Bärenklau, NL: Gewone berenklauw,
UK: Common Hogweed, Cow parsnip, Meadow-parsnip

Scientific name:		Heracleum sphondylium L.
Synonym name:		Heracleum australe (Hartm.) Stankov, Heracleum sibiricum L.
Swedish name:		Björnloka, björnfloka, sibirisk björnloka
German name:		Wiesen-Bärenklau, Gemeine Bärenklau
Nederlandse naam:		Gewone berenklauw
English name:		Common Hogweed, Cow parsnip, Meadow-parsnip
Plant Family:		Umbelliferae / Apiaceae, Carrot family, Flockblommiga växter

Life form:		Perennial
Stems:		Up to 2m. Hollow stem, bristly hairs
Leaves:		Pinnate, hairy, serrated, 3-5 lobed segments
Flowers:		Hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs), umbels with 15 to 30 rays, 5 petals, yellowish-green or white
Flowering Period:		June, July/span>
Fruits:		flattened and winged, elliptical to rounded and glabrous, up to 1 cm long. The seed dispersal is granted by wind (anemochory).
Habitat:		Throughout the country, coast, pastureland, meadows, farmland, settlements

Derivation of the botanical name: Heracleum, Greek "herákleion" and refers to the mythologic hero Heracles. sphondylium, sphondylos, a vertebra, because of the jointed stem. australe, southern. sibiricum, of or from Siberia. The standard author abbreviation L. is used to indicate Carl Linnaeus (1707 – 1778), a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, the father of modern taxonomy. The standard author abbreviation Hartm. is used to indicate Carl Johan Hartman (1790 – 1849), a Swedish botanist. Heracleum sphondylium is pollinated by insects (usually bees, wasps and flies) (entomogamy).