I sympathize with you about the phytophotodermatitis. Years ago I had a luxuriant bed of parsnips in my garden and needed to tie back the plants to get them out of the path, so I gathered up big armloads of the greenery, backed into the plants, etc. while doing the tying. Shorts and t-shirt, unfortunately. Then I gardened for several more hours in the hot summer sun. A day later my arms and legs were covered in painful, itchy blisters that became oozing, burning sores which took a couple of weeks to heal. After they healed, they left hyperpigmented (brownish) areas on my skin, and ten years later a little of that is still visible as a reminder. From my experience, you don't actually have to break or crush the plant; just brushing against it can cause the problem. So, parsnip growers beware! I buy my parsnips at the store these days.
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