ARCTIUM L. - THISTLE BURDOCK
Scientific Description:
Coarse, erect biennials with leafy, branching stems, glabrous to farinose or arachnoid. Leaves cordate, petiolate, finely serrate. Capitula homogamous, discoid, borne in racemes or cymes. Involucre subglobose; phyllaries pluri-seriate, patent, narrowly lanceolate to acicular, all hooked or innermost ovate-acuminate at apex. Receptacle flat, densely bristly. Flowers purple. Achenes somewhat compressed, oblong, truncate, ± rugose, bearing a short pappus of free, deciduous, scabrous hairs.
Reference:
Kupicha FK (1975). Arctium L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 5: 354.
Public Description:
Arctium is a genus of biennial herbs, commonly known as “thistle burdock” or “gobo”, and is widely distributed in worldwide. There are 19 species in the world and 3 species (3taxa) in Türkiye. These plants have dark green leaves that can grow up to 1 meter long. The prickly heads of these plants are noted for easily catching on to fur and clothing. In England, some birdwatchers have reported that birds have become entangled in the burrs leading to a slow death, as they are unable to free themselves. On the other hand, the clinging properties of plants provide an excellent mechanism for seed dispersal.
References:
Anonymous 1 (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctium, Accessed date: 05.01.2016.
Anonymous 2 (2016). http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/burdoc87.html/, Accessed date: 05.01.2016.
Anonymous 3 (2016). http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/A/Compositae/Arctium/, Accessed date: 05.01.2016.
Ekim T (2012). Arctium L. In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 118.
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