A new patch of giant hogweed, a noxious, alien and invasive plant that looks like Queen Anne's lace on steroids, has been found in Forward Township in southwest Butler County.

Giant hogweed can cause blistering and scarring on the skin of those who come in contact with it.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is warning residents to avoid the area along the Pittsburgh/Buffalo railroad tracks at the intersection of Spithaler School and Ash Stop roads, and at the intersection of the tracks and Ash Stop Road, and to report any other areas where the giant weed, native to Eurasia, is sighted.

"Thanks to a tip on the Giant Hogweed Hotline, the department was able to quickly and accurately identify the infestation," said Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff. "We encourage local residents to stay away from the infested area as treatment continues, and to report any new sightings so we can act swiftly to stop the spread of the weed."

A member of the carrot and parsley family, hogweed stands 8 to 14 feet tall when mature. It has a hollow, ridged, central stem, 2 to 4 inches in diameter, with purple or red blotches and coarse hairs. Its leaves are broad and unevenly lobed and can grow to 5 feet across.

It's on the federal and state noxious weed list, making it illegal to propagate, sell or transport, but was once cultivated in Europe and brought to North America around 1917 for landscaping uses.

Residents are advised not to try to remove hogweed themselves but to call the Department of Agriculture. Its field staff has treated the plants in the area with a special herbicide -- its unaffected by Roundup, a common commercial herbicide -- and are available to visit with property owners to identify suspected plants present on their land.

The weed spreads rapidly once established in the area near a stream, making prevention of seed production critical to limiting the spread into Forward Township's nearby Connoquenessing stream.

In 1999, giant hogweed was discovered about 14 miles west of Evans City in Fombell, Beaver County. Property owners with land adjacent to the railroad tracks and track spurs between Fombell and Forward Township are encouraged to learn how to identify the poisonous plant.

Since 1985, there have been 477 giant hogweed sites confirmed in Pennsylvania, but 203 of those have been eradicated, leaving 274 active sites across the state. The Agriculture Department's eradication efforts involve spraying known sites three to five times a year for 10 to 15 years.

Citizens with suspected sightings of the plant are asked to call the Giant Hogweed Hotline at 1-877-464-9333. Brochures to aide in identification are available at the Forward Township Municipality Building or online at www.agriculture.state.pa.us under "Plant and Animal Health."