how to identify giant hogweed at the early stages

[newt_man]

Hi all,

I was wondering whether some one can help me to identify giant hogweed at an early life stage. I am confident to ID in its fully grown form but sometimes uncertain when it is younger.

Do they younger specimens have any dead give aways to tell them apart from common hogweed and any other umbellifers?

Thanks

[Gill Catton]

The sheer size of the leaves in combination with purple splotches on the stem are good pointers and if you've only got leaves, well I know this is a touch subjective but they always seem more pointy and jagged/ angry looking that standard hogweed (the main confusion species).

[Brocakat]

You're right , Gill. These large (r than other Umbelliferae) leaves are exaggeratedly concave and spiny compared with native Umbellifer members