Arctium minus Lesser Burdock

Arctium minus, Lesser Burdock, is a common, robust biennial composite which produces purple, thistle-like inflorescences and branched stems that bear rough, hairy leaves. The large basal leaves are broad, somewhat pointed and rather heart-shaped. It is widespread and common throughout Britain and is much more common in West Glamorgan than Greater Burdock (Arctium lappa), which it resembles. The hollow leaf stalks are distinctive and an important identification feature, but it should be noted that this may only be apparent near the base of the stalk. The occurrence and significance of another distinct and separate taxon called Arctium nemorosum, Wood Burdock, which is listed in Stace's flora and described as very similar to Lesser Burdock, has not been explored in West Glamorgan. Lesser Burdock is represented in West Galmorgan as Arctium minus ssp. minus and is encountered frquently in wayside verges and hedgebanks, along woodland edges and in the tall herbaceous flora that occurs along forest roads. 

Native