This is an archived copy of this article, recovered after a server failure in January 2022.

Some links may be broken, and editing is disabled. We are working to bring back full functionality.

Arctium minus
  • Lesser Burdock

a biennial member of the Arctium genus in the family Compositae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 5
    Zone 5
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Arctium minus has 0 edible uses listed
Arctium minus has 0 material uses listed
Arctium minus has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

Although no reports of toxicity have been seen for this plant, some caution is advised due to the following report for the closely related A. lappa[K]. Care should be taken if harvesting the seed in any quantity since tiny hairs from the seeds can be inhaled and these are toxic[1].

Edible uses

Notes

Root - raw or cooked[2][3]. The best roots are obtained from young plants[3]. Usually peeled and sliced[4].

The roasted root is a coffee substitute[4]. Young leaves and leaf stems - raw or cooked[3]. Used as a potherb[4]. Mucilaginous. It is best to remove the rind from the stem[3]. Young flowering stem - peeled and eaten raw or cooked like asparagus[5][4].

Seed sprouts[6]. No further details.

Unknown part

Coffee

Leaves

Unknown use

Root

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Stem

Unknown use

Material uses

A fibre is obtained from the inner bark and is used to make paper. It is about 0.9mm long[7]. The stems are harvested in late summer, the leaves are removed and the stems steamed in order to strip off the fibre. The fibres are then cooked for two hours in soda ash before being put in a ball mill for 2 hours[7]. The resulting paper is a light tan/ brown colour[7].

Unknown part

Paper

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Burdock is one of the foremost detoxifying herbs in both Chinese and Western herbal medicine[8]. Arctium lappa is the main species used, though this species has similar properties[8]. The dried root of one year old plants is the official herb, but the leaves and fruits can also be used[9]. It is used to treat conditions caused by an 'overload' of toxins, such as throat and other infections, boils, rashes and other skin problems[8]. The root is thought to be particularly good at helping to eliminate heavy metals from the body[8].

The plant is antibacterial, antifungal and carminative[10][11][12][13][14]. It has soothing, mucilaginous properties and is said to be one of the most certain cures for many types of skin diseases, burns, bruises etc[9][15]. It is used in the treatment of herpes, eczema, acne, impetigo, ringworm, boils, bites etc[15]. The plant can be taken internally as an infusion, or used externally as a wash[15]. Use with caution[13]. One-year old roots are alterative, aperient, blood purifier, cholagogue, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic and stomachic[16][17]. The seed is alterative, antibacterial, antifungal, antiphlogistic, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic and hypoglycaemic[14][16]. It is used in the treatment of colds with sore throat and cough, measles, pharyngitis, acute tonsillitis and abscesses[14]. The crushed seed is poulticed onto bruises[17]. The seed is harvested in the summer and dried for later use[8]. The seed contains arctiin, this excites the central nervous system producing convulsions an increase in respiration and later paralysis. It also lowers the blood pressure by dilating the blood vessels[14].

The leaves are poulticed onto burns, ulcers and sores[17].

Unknown part

Alterative
Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aperient
Blood purifier
Carminative
Cholagogue
Diaphoretic
Diuretic
Hypoglycaemic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown in situ in autumn.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Arctium minus. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds on most soils, preferably moist[18]. Prefers a sunny position. Prefers partial shade according to another report[18].

A polymorphic species[19].

A good butterfly plant[20].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Arctium minus. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Arctium minus.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Arctium minus
Genus
Arctium
Family
Compositae
Imported References
Edible uses
[2][3][4][5][6]
Medicinal uses
[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]
Material uses & Functions
[7]
Botanic
[19][18]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    biennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    1 x meters
    Fertility
    self fertile
    Pollinators
    Bees, Lepidoptera, Self
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Arctium minus corimbo.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Arctium minus corimbo.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Arctium minus corimbo.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Arctium minus corimbo.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Arctium minus corimbo.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Arctium minus corimbo.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Arctium minus corimbo.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Arctium minus corimbo.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Arctium minus corimbo.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Arctium minus corimbo.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Arctium minus corimbo.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Arctium minus corimbo.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Arctium minus corimbo.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Arctium minus corimbo.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Arctium minus corimbo.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? Erhardt. W. Hemerocallis. Day Lilies. Batsford. ISBN 0-7134-7065-8 (1992-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold ISBN 0442222009 (1982-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.4 Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press ISBN 0-8623-0343-9 (1967-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.4 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health (1973-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.27.3 Bell. L. A. Plant Fibres for Papermaking. Liliaceae Press (1988-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.18.28.38.48.5 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 (1996-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.2 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.1 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.1 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (1983-00-00)
    12. ? 12.012.1 ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X ()
    13. ? 13.013.113.2 Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism. ()
    14. ? 14.014.114.214.314.4 Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles (1985-00-00)
    15. ? 15.015.115.215.3 Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. ISBN 0-330-30725-8 (1990-00-00)
    16. ? 16.016.116.2 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
    17. ? 17.017.117.217.3 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)
    18. ? 18.018.118.2 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    19. ? 19.019.1 Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)
    20. ? Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden. ()

    Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-13" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.
    Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-5" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.

    "image:Arctium minus corimbo.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "http://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Arctium_minus&oldid=75174"
    Facts about "Arctium minus"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyCompositae +
    Belongs to genusArctium +
    Has common nameLesser Burdock +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part +, Leaves +, Root +, Seeds + and Stem +
    Has edible useCoffee substitute + and Unknown use +
    Has fertility typeSelf fertile +, Bee +, Lepidoptera + and Self +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone5 +
    Has imageArctium minus corimbo.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typeBiennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material usePaper +
    Has mature height1 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAlterative +, Antibacterial +, Antifungal +, Aperient +, Blood purifier +, Carminative +, Cholagogue +, Diaphoretic +, Diuretic + and Hypoglycaemic +
    Has primary imageArctium minus corimbo.jpg +
    Has search namearctium minus + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameArctium minus +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +