Species
Arctium minus subsp. minus
Etymology
minus: small; from the Latin minor
Common Name(s)
burdock
Family
Asteraceae
Flora Category
Vascular - Exotic
Structural Class
Dicotyledonous Herbs - Composites
Habitat
Terrestrial. Forest margins, waste places, roadsides, creek beds.
Features
Large biennial herb usually 1-1.5 m tall. Stems grooved and with sparse hairs. Basal leaves deltoid up to 40 x 30 cm, green above and white and densely felty beneath, on hollow petioles. Upper leaves similar to lower but becoming smaller. Inflorescence a raceme of small reddish purple flowers, with green bracts. Seed 5-7 mm long with pappus attached.
Similar Taxa
Can be distinguished from the very similar A. lappa by the hollow petioles/.
Flowering
January, February, March, April
Flower Colours
Red / Pink,Violet / Purple
Fruiting
February, March, April, May
Year Naturalised
1894
Origin
Europe, W. Asia
Reason For Introduction
Accidental
Reproduction
reproduces from seed.
Seed
many seeds are produced
Dispersal
Wind, water, people
Tolerances
Moderately shade tolerant.
This page last updated on 2 Aug 2011