Common burdock
June 5, 2015
Print
EmailArctium minus (Hill) Bernh. Asteraceae (Aster family)
Life cycle
Biennial.
Young common burdock plant (left). Mature common burdock plant (right).
Leaves
Plant forms a large-leaved basal rosette in the first year. Leaves are large, alternate, wavy and broadest at the base with hollow petioles. The upper leaf surface is dark green; the undersurface is light green and woolly.
Stems
Hollow, hairy, grooved stems elongate from the rosette during the second year. Stems are branched and can grow to 5 feet tall.
Flowers and fruit
Purple flower heads are encircled by hook-like bracts that dry to form a bur. The seed is enclosed in the burs, which make dissemination easy by attaching to fur or clothing.
Common burdock flowers and fruit.
Reproduction
Seeds.
Print a PDF of this page: Common burdock
Other Documents in this Series
You Might Also Be Interested In
-
Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources event to focus on soil health
Published on January 12, 2016
-
Respirator guidelines to meet new Worker Protection Standards
Published on April 10, 2017
-
How to get Michigan Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification
Published on August 24, 2017
-
Potential sources of labor: Are these in your future plans?
Published on February 29, 2016
-
Crop scouting and…ticks?
Published on June 2, 2016
-
Improved degree-day maps on Enviroweather
Published on April 19, 2017
Accessibility Questions:
For questions about accessibility and/or if you need additional accommodations for a specific document, please send an email to ANR Communications & Marketing at anrcommunications@anr.msu.edu.