Arctium minus explained

Arctium minus, commonly known as lesser burdock, little burdock, louse-bur, common burdock, button-bur, cuckoo-button, or wild rhubarb,^[1] is a biennial plant. This plant is native to Europe,^[2] but has become introduced elsewhere such as Australia, North and South America, and other places.^{[3] [4] [5] [6]}

Lesser burdock produces purple flowers in its second year of growth, from July to October. Outer bracts end in hooks that are like hook-and-loop. After the flower head dries, the hooked bracts will attach to humans and animals to transport the entire seedhead.^[7]

Characteristics

Arctium minus can grow up to tall^[8] and form multiple branches. It is large and bushy. Flowers are prickly and pink to lavender in color. Flower heads are about 2cm (01inches) wide. The plant flowers from July through October. The flowers resemble and can be easily mistaken for thistles, but burdock can be distinguished by its extremely large (up to 50 cm) leaves and its hooked bracts. Leaves are long and ovate. Lower leaves are heart-shaped and have very wavy margins. Leaves are dark green above and woolly below. It grows an extremely deep taproot, up to 30cm (10inches) into the ground.^{[9] [10]}

Uses

The leafstalks (a year old or younger) and flower stalks can be eaten raw or cooked. The roots are edible boiled with a change of water, though become too woody to eat in plants over a year old.^[11]

External links

• Many pictures & information

Notes and References

1. http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ARMI2 USDA PLANTS information
2. http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/index1.php?scientific-name=arctium+minus Altervista Flora Italiana, Lappola bardana minore Arctium minus (Hill) Bernh.
3. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242416085 Flora of North America, Vol. 19, 20 and 21 Page 170 Common or lesser burdock, petite bardane, cibourroche, chou bourache, bourrier, Arctium minus (Hill) Bernhardi, Syst. Verz. 154. 1800.
4. http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Arctium%20lappa.png Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
5. Marticorena, C. & M. Quezada. 1985. Catálogo de la Flora Vascular de Chile. Gayana, Botánica 42: 1–157
6. http://bie.ala.org.au/species/Arctium+minus Atlas of Living Australia
7. Book: Rose, Francis. Francis Rose

   . The Wild Flower Key. Frederick Warne & Co. 1981. 0-7232-2419-6. 386–387. Francis Rose.

8. Book: Elias, Thomas S.. Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods. Dykeman. Peter A.. Sterling. 2009. 978-1-4027-6715-9. New York. 112. 244766414. 1982.
9. John W. Thieret, William A. Niering, and Nancy C. Olmstead. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Eastern Region, Revised edition. Chanticleer Press, Inc, 2001.
10. Richard H. Uva, Joseph C. Neal, and Joseph M. Ditomaso. Weeds of the Northeast. Cornell University Press, 1997.
11. Book: Benoliel, Doug. Northwest Foraging: The Classic Guide to Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest. Skipstone. 2011. 978-1-59485-366-1. Rev. and updated. Seattle, WA. 55. 668195076.