Common burdock Arctium minus (Hill) Bernh.
Family: Asteraceae (Composite family)
Life cycle: Biennial
Native status: Introduced from Europe by early immigrants.
Habitat: Pastures, disturbed areas with little competition from adjacent plants
General description: Rosette of large, egg to heart shaped leaves the first year; in second year branched flower stalks elongate up to 4 to 5 ft tall. Pink to purple flowers surrounded by bracts that dry to form bur, bracts have hooks that attach to clothing and fur.
Key ID traits: Large, wavy-edged leaves are light-colored, woolly on underside; upper surface is darker and smoother.
Miscellaneous: Common burdock is often found in fencelines and other areas devoid of permanent vegetation. The burs of common burdock were the inspiration for Velcro. A swiss inventor tired of pulling burdock burs from his dog’s fur, so he examined them and came up with the idea for Velcro. The roots of young plants are harvested for consumption.
Meaghan Anderson Field Agronomist in Central Iowa
Meaghan Anderson is a field agronomist in central Iowa and an extension field specialist at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Educational programming is available for farmers, agribusinesses, pesticide applicators, certified crop advisors, and other individuals interested in...