Common Burdock
Arctium minus
| Common Name: | Common Burdock |
| Scientific Name: | Arctium minus |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Growth Form: | Herb |
| Native Range: | Europe |
| Invasive Range: | The United States |
| Introduction: | English and French settlers brought common burdock to |
| Description: | ·Leaves: Alternate, egg shaped. Wavy margins. 40cm by 50cm (16in. by 20 in.) Basal leaves heart-shaped, form rosette. Upper surface smooth, dark, undersurface furry, light.
·Stem: Erect, branched, hollow, hairy, grooved or angular. Close to the ground. ·Flowers: Purple disk, 1.5-3 cm (0.75-1.5 in.) in diameter. Outer bracts of the flower form sphere tipped with hooks that behave like Velcro. Present from July to October. Flower dries to form a burr. ·Fruit: Achene is 4-7 mm (0.1-0.25 in.) long, bristles at one end. Seeds are grey-brown and wedge shaped. |
| Threats: | Common burdock is generally a weed of pastures, fences, and agricultural crops. The burrs formed when the flower dries can be dangerous to livestock and domestic animals. |
| Fun Facts: | If ingested, Common burdock can cause intestinal hairballs in dogs and may become lodged in the esophagus of poultry. |
Plant in autumn
Burr
Leaf