Arctium minus(Hill) Bernh. Common Burdock

Arctium minus(Hill) Bernh. - Common Burdock

Scientific Description:

Plants c. 1 m. Leaves 6−29 × 6−26 cm. Capitula in corymbose, subcorymbose or cymose inflorescences. Involucre 22−35 mm broad, scarcely open in fruit, glabrous or sparsely arachnoid; phyllaries acicular, all hooked, yellowish-green, less than 1 mm wide at median point. Flowers equalling involucre.

subsp. minus

Capitula subsessile to shortly pedunculate, in congested cymes on racemic branches; involucre c. 2 cm broad

 

Flowering time: July−August.

Habitat: Forest clearings, garigue, roadsides, 120−1700 m.

 

Reference:
Kupicha FK (1975). Arctium minus (Hill) Bernh., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 5: 355.

Public Description:

Arctium minus subsp. minus, known as “lesser burdock”, “burweed”, “louse-bur”, or “common burdock”, is distributed in Europe, south and east to North Africa and the Caucasus. It is a biennial herb with purple flowers, up to 1 meter in length. It blooms between July and August and is found in forest clearings, garigue, and roadsides. This plant has dark green leaves that can grow up to 1 meter long. The prickly heads of this plant is 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 the plant provide an excellent mechanism for seed dispersal.

 

References:

Anonymous (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctium_minus, 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.