Plant · P-258

Burdock Root

Arctium minus

Lesser Burdock is a different species from the straight gobo root grown as a vegetable - it is the stronger medicinal plant of the two, rated among the foremost detoxifying herbs in both Chinese and western herbal traditions. The first-year root is edible, but the real surprise is the young leaf stalk: peeled and cooked, it tastes closer to artichoke than the mild root does. It grows best in part shade on moist ground, one of the few crops that actually prefers the shady side of a building, but its hooked seed burrs catch on fur and clothing and can foul a wool fleece, so keep it away from paths and long-haired stock.