One of the times I bought parsnips a few years ago, the check out clerk at the store was confused as to what they were. Told him they are parsnips, and he called them evil carrots.
Underrated veggie imho. They’re amazing grilled. They give some kick to mashed potatoes. On the other hand, the sap from their plant causes serious blisters when exposed to sunlight and they’ve gone wild, turning into a problematic invasive specie in many regions. Evil carrot is about right.