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Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• great burdock
• greater burdock
• beggar's-buttons
• burdock
• edible burdock
• lappa

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lappa arctium

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Arctium lappa, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. Finally, it is placed within the genus Arctium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several regions within Northern Europe. Its distribution is notably documented throughout the islands of Iceland and the Faroe Islands. In mainland territories, it can be found growing in Denmark and Finland. Furthermore, the species is well-established within the landscapes of Great Britain. Together, these locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in northern climates.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Arctium lappa is characterized by its adaptability to diverse mountainous landscapes, where it thrives in habitats such as forests, meadows, and mountainous terrains. This species demonstrates a significant vertical distribution across varying altitudes, occupying an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 750 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 3500 m AMSL. Within this broad altitudinal gradient, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 2125 m AMSL, reflecting its ability to colonize both mid-altitude slopes and higher montane environments.

Elevational range max:

3500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2125 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

750 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, meadows, mountains

Genetics

The genetics of Arctium lappa are characterized by a specific chromosomal configuration that plays a significant role in its biological complexity and evolutionary stability. Research into its karyotype reveals variations in the chromosome number, with documented counts of 32 and 36 chromosomes. This numerical variation suggests a degree of chromosomal polymorphism within the species, which may influence its genetic diversity and adaptation to different environmental niches. The presence of these distinct chromosomal numbers indicates a complex genomic structure that contributes to the plant's overall genetic architecture and phenotypic plasticity.

Chromosome number :

32, 36

Life history

The life history of Arctium lappa is characterized by a biennial lifecycle, typically completing its biological processes over a two-year period. During its initial stage, the plant functions as a hemicryptophyte, maintaining its perennual buds at the soil surface to survive seasonal changes. As it progresses through its developmental stages, it can also be classified under the therophyte life form, particularly in how it manages its seasonal survival strategies. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage in response to environmental shifts.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

biennial

Morphology

The morphology of Arctium lappa is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This self-supporting plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of stature, it exhibits significant variability in height, with individual plants typically ranging from a minimum of 0.6 m to a maximum of 3 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 1.1425 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

1.1425 m

Plant height min:

0.6 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Arctium lappa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy typical of many temperate species that allows for efficient carbon fixation in moderate environments. The plant is non-carnivorous and lacks defensive morphological structures such as leaf thorns or spines. Its foliar architecture is defined by a cordate leaf form featuring toothed margins, which contributes to a significant mean leaf size of approximately 252.26833 cm². The dimensions of the leaves vary considerably, with a mean length of 30 cm and a maximum length reaching up to 50 cm, while the width fluctuates between a minimum of 3 cm and a maximum of 50 cm, resulting in a mean width of 2.7 cm. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 172.8 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and its physiological approach to light interception and resource allocation.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

cordate

Leaf length max:

50 cm

Leaf length mean:

30 cm

Leaf margin :

toothed

Leaf size mean:

252.26833 cm²

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

50 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.7 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

172.8 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Arctium lappa is characterized by a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is absent. The flowering period typically begins in July and concludes in August. During this cycle, the plant relies on biotic pollination, specifically utilizing an insect-based syndrome where bees play a significant role in the process. Notably, self-fertilization is absent, necessitating these insect vectors for successful reproduction. The plant is monocarpic, meaning it undergoes a single reproductive cycle. Following pollination, it produces an indehiscent fruit type known as an achene. These fruits vary in size, with a mean length of 0.65 cm (ranging from 0.5 to 0.7 cm) and a mean width of 0.25 cm (ranging from 0.2 to 0.3 cm). Within these fruits, the seeds maintain a consistent length of 6.5 mm. The seed mass is relatively small, with a mean of approximately 0.0121 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.0075 g to a maximum of 0.013 g. For the distribution of offspring, the plant employs a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, though it is also classified as having an unspecialized dispersal method.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

0.7 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.65 cm

Fruit length min:

0.5 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width max:

0.3 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.25 cm

Fruit width min:

0.2 cm

Monocarpy :

monocarp

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

6.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.013 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0121323335 g

Seed mass min:

0.0075 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Arctium lappa has 4 reported plant parts identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, leaf, root, fruit.

Seed

1. Phytochemistry
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Inflammopharmacology
4. Planta medica
5. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Leaf

1. Natural products and bioprospecting
2. Inflammopharmacology
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Root

1. Natural products and bioprospecting
2. Inflammopharmacology
3. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica
4. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Fruit

1. BMC plant biology
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Chemicals

Arctium lappa has 192 reported phytochemicals identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Arctigenin, Arctiin, Lignans, Fatty acids, LAPPAOL C.

Arctigenin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biochemical and biophysical research communications
3. Food science & nutrition
4. Phytochemistry
5. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Arctiin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food science & nutrition
3. Phytochemistry
4. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Lignans

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
4. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
5. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Fatty acids

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
2. Journal of oleo science
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

LAPPAOL C

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Lappaol F

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Matairesinol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

polyphenols

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Arctignan D

1. Dr. Duke
2. In silico pharmacology

Flavonoids

1. Natural products and bioprospecting
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Activities

Arctium lappa has 587 reported activities identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Antiviral, Analgesic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Dentistry journal
3. Phytochemistry
4. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
5. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural products and bioprospecting
3. Inflammopharmacology
4. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Dentistry journal
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
3. Chemistry & biodiversity
4. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Antiaging

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Antithrombotic

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
2. Experimental and therapeutic medicine

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antiulcer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Inflammopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Arctium lappa has 67 reported medicinal uses identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, cancer, oxidative stress, edema, obesity.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations