Arctium lappa Greater Burdock

Arctium lappa, Greater Burdock, is a large, branched biennial which produces large, butterbur-like rounded basal leaves whose stalks are solid throughout. In this charcater it differs from the more common Lesser Burdock (Arctium minus) which it resembles and with which it hybrises occasionally. It is a widespread species in much of England but, until recently, it has been uncommon or rare in Wales. It may be expanding its range westwards but some records of it in Wales may be errors. The Flora of Glamorgan (1994) mentions only one reliable record of it in West Glamorgan from Llanmadoc and comments on the fact that the species is at the edge of its range here. More recent records of it from Gower suggest that it is increasing.

Archaeophyte