Arctium Fedtschenkoanum

''Arctium'' is a genus of biennial plants commonly known as burdock, family Asteraceae. Native to Europe and Asia, several species have been widely introduced worldwide. Burdock's clinging properties, in addition to providing an excellent mechanism for seed dispersal, led to the invention of the hook and loop fastener.

Description

Plants of the genus ''Arctium'' have dark green leaves that can grow up to 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. Burdock flowers provide essential pollen and nectar for honeybees around August when clover is on the wane and before the goldenrod starts to bloom.

Burdock's clinging properties provides it an excellent mechanism for seed dispersal.

Taxonomy

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 relation between their molecular phylogeny. The burdocks are sometimes confused with the cockleburs (genus '' Xanthium'') and rhubarb (genus ''Rheum'').

Accepted species

The following species are accepted:

*'' Arctium abolinii''
*'' Arctium alberti''
*'' Arctium × ambiguum''
*'' Arctium amplissimum''
*'' Arctium anomalum''
*''Arctium arctiodes''
*'' Arctium atlanticum'' – Algeria, Morocco
*'' Arctium aureum''
*'' Arctium chloranthum''
*'' Arctium dolichophyllum''
*'' Arctium × dualis''
*'' Arctium echinopifolium''
*'' Arctium egregium''
*'' Arctium elatum''
*'' Arctium evidens''
*'' Arctium fedtschenkoanum''
*''Arctium grandifolium''
*''Arctium haesitabundum''
*''Arctium horrescens''
*'' Arctium karatavicum''
*''Arctium korolkowii''
*'' Arctium korshinskyi''
*'' Arctium lappa'' – greater burdock – much of Eurasia; naturalized in North America, Australia and New Zealand
*'' Arctium lappaceum''
*'' Arctium × leiobardanum'' – Siberia
*'' Arctium leiospermum''
*'' Arctium × maassii''
*'' Arctium macilentum''
*'' Arctium medians''
*'' Arctium minus'' – lesser burdock – Europe and southwestern Asia; naturalized in North and South America, Australia and New Zealand
*'' Arctium × mixtum''
*'' Arctium nemorosum''
*''Arctium nidulans''
*'' Arctium × nothum'' – central and eastern Europe
*'' Arctium palladinii'' – Turkey, Iran, Caucasus
*'' Arctium pallidivirens''
*'' Arctium pentacanthoides''
*'' Arctium pentacanthum''
*'' Arctium pseudarctium'' – Afghanistan, Tajikistan
*'' Arctium pterolepidum''
*'' Arctium radula''
*'' Arctium refractum''
*'' Arctium sardaimionense'' – Tajikistan
*'' Arctium schmalhausenii''
*'' Arctium × semiconstrictum''
*'' Arctium tomentellum''
*''Arctium tomentosum'' – woolly burdock – northern and eastern Europe, Turkey, Iran, Caucasus, Siberia, Xinjiang; naturalized in North America
*'' Arctium triflorum''
*'' Arctium ugamense''
*'' Arctium umbrosum''
*'' Arctium vavilovii''
*'' Arctium × zalewskii''

Etymology

Circa 16th century, from bur + dock, the latter meaning sorrel of the genus Rumex.

Ecology

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 prickly heads of these plants ( burrs) 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.

Toxicity

The green, above-ground portions may cause contact dermatitis in individual with allergies as the plant contains lactones.

Uses

Food and drink

The taproot