BGFlora.eu

 

Description:

Arctium is a genus of biennial plants commonly known as burdock, family Asteraceae.[3] Native to the Old World, several species have been widely introduced worldwide.[4]

Plants of the genus Arctium have dark green leaves that can grow up to 28" (71 cm) long. They are generally large, coarse and ovate, with the lower ones being heart-shaped. They are woolly underneath. The leafstalks are generally hollow. Arctium species generally flower from July through to October.
The prickly heads of these plants (burrs) are noted for easily catching on to fur and clothing (being the inspiration for Velcro[5]), thus providing an excellent mechanism for seed dispersal.[4] Burrs cause local irritation and can possibly cause intestinal hairballs in pets. However, most animals avoid ingesting these plants.
Birds are especially prone to becoming entangled with their feathers in the burrs leading to a slow death, as they are unable to free themselves.[6]
A large number of species have been placed in genus Arctium at one time or another, but most of them are now classified in the related genus Cousinia. The precise limits between Arctium and Cousinia are hard to define; there is an exact correlation between their molecular phylogeny. The burdocks are sometimes confused with the cockleburs (genus Xanthium) and rhubarb (genus Rheum).
The roots of burdock, among other plants, are eaten by the larva of the Ghost Moth (Hepialus humuli). The plant is used as a food plant by other Lepidoptera including Brown-tail, Coleophora paripennella, Coleophora peribenanderi, the Gothic, Lime-speck Pug and Scalloped Hazel.
The green, above-ground portions may cause contact dermatitis in humans due to the lactones the plant produces.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Baskets medium, almost cumulus. Shell composed of tile-shaped stacked styliform tapered and on his top hook-shaped leaves. Blossom bed covered with bristles. All blossoms bisexual, with pipe-whorl. Fruit oblong, flattened and edge-shaped, little corrugate and covered with spots. Kite consists of short, jagged and easy droped off cloth. Tall, highly branched, biennial plants. Leaves large, heart-shaped, oval, coarsely toothed and at the lower surface is usually covered with cobwebs. Baskets collected panicle, thyroid or almost raceme.

1. Basket located almost in thyroid cluster ......................................................................................................................................................... 2.
1*. Baskets located almost in raceme ............................................................................................................................................................... 3.
2. The shell naked or almost naked. All jacket notes green, styliform and its tip curved like hooks .................................................. (2) A. lappa L.
2*. Shell covered with a dense web. Inner wrapping leaves wider, linear-lanceo, reddish colored and its tip is not curved like hooks ...................... ......................................................................................................................................................................................... (1) A. tomentosum Mill..
3. Basket cumulus, to 2.5 cm wide, covered with a thin web. Branches are straight. Fruits to 6 mm long. Plant to 1.5 m high ................................... .................................................................................................................................................................................... (4) A. minus (Hill.) Bernh.
3*. The tip of the basket is flattened, 3 - 4 cm wide and 2.5 cm long, naked. Branches long, curved. Fruits 8 - 9 mm in length. Plant almost three..... meters high …………. …….................................................................................................................................... (3) A. vulgaris (Hill.) Evans.

2875. (1). A. tomentosum Mill. {Lappa /. Lam.) (Biennial plants) – Grow  weed places, around shrubs, etc .; wide spread at all appropriate floristic areas of  Bulgaria (1-). VI - IX.
2876. (2). A. lappa L. (A. majus Bemh.) (Biennial plants) - Grow  weed places, around the bushes and forests; wide spread at all appropriate floristic areas of  Bulgaria (1-). VI - X. (T, L, X). Fig. 1453.
2877. (3). A. vulgaris (Hill.) A. N. Evans (A nemorosum Lej., Lappa vulgaris Hill.) (Biennial plants) - In the forests in the vicinity of Rila Monastery, in the Gabrovo region of Balkan mountain (2). VII - IX.
2878. (4). A. minus (Hill.) Bernh. {Lappa minor Hill.) (Biennial plants) - Grow in the dumps, middens, wilderness, near buildings and others. Widespread at all appropriate floristic areas of  Bulgaria  (1). VI - VIII. (T, L, X). Fig. 1454.
From:  „Флора на България”, Н. Стоянов, Б. Стефанов, Б. Китанов, част II, Наука и Изкуство, София, (1967)

References: „Флора на България”, Н. Стоянов, Б. Стефанов, Б. Китанов, част II, Наука и Изкуство, София, (1967)

Distribution in Bulgaria: (Conspectus of the Bulgarian Vascular Flora) = conspectus&gs_l= Zlc.

 

SPECIES:

Arctium lappa L. - Greater burdock,  Edible burdock, or Beggar's buttons

Arctium minus (Hill,) Bernh. - Lesser burdock, Burweed, Louse-bur, ...

 

 E-mail: krnanev@gmail.com                                                                                                                  © K.Nanev