Lesser Burdock

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• lesser burdock
• common burdock
• cuckoo-button
• llepassa

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lappa minor subsp. pubens
• Arctium minus subsp. tibidatensis
• Arctium lappa var. pubens
• Arctium lappa subsp. pubens
• Lappa minor var. pubens
• Arctium degenii var. tibidatensis
• Arctium chabertii subsp. balearicum
• Lappa minor
• Arctium nemorosum subsp. tchihatchefii
• Arctium montanum
• Arctium nemorosum subsp. pubens
• Bardana minor
• Arctium minus subsp. mediterraneum
• Lappa conglomerata
• Lappa bardana subsp. minor
• Lappa major subsp. pubens
• Arctium tomentosum subsp. pubens
• Arctium lappa var. minus
• Arctium nemorosum var. pubens
• Arctium minus f. laciniatum
• Arctium minus f. leucocephalum
• Arctium minus f. pallidum
• Arctium minus var. corymbosum
• Arctium batavum
• Arctium degenii
• Lappa vulgaris var. minor
• Arctium minus subsp. batavum
• Lappa pubens
• Arcion minus
• Arctium conglomeratum
• Arctium pubens
• Arctium melanoceps
• Arctium minus subsp. pubens
• Arctium minus var. melanoceps

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known as Arctium minus, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Asterales. Finally, it is a member of the family Asteraceae and falls under the genus Arctium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Arctium minus, exhibits a specific distribution across various regions of Northern Europe. Its presence is well-documented in the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. Furthermore, the species can be found growing within the landscapes of Finland. It is also widely distributed throughout the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its range extends further north into the natural environments of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Arctium minus is characterized by its broad adaptability across varying altitudes and landscapes, primarily thriving in lowland environments. This species demonstrates a significant vertical distribution, occupying an elevational range that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum altitude of 2200 m AMSL. This wide altitudinal tolerance allows the plant to colonize diverse topographical zones, provided the fundamental habitat requirements of lowland or mid-altitude regions are met.

Elevational range max:

2200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Arctium minus is characterized by a biennial lifecycle, meaning it typically completes its developmental stages over a period of two years. As a hemicryptophyte, the plant protects its perennating buds at the soil surface level during unfavorable seasons, ensuring its survival through varying environmental conditions. Despite its seasonal growth patterns, the plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness trait, maintaining its physiological integrity through specific structural adaptations. This combination of a biennial lifecycle and a hemicryptophyte life form allows the species to establish a robust presence in its ecological niche.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

biennial

Morphology

The morphology of Arctium minus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it grows as an independent organism rather than a parasite. This terrestrial species typically inhabits non-aquatic environments. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variability in height, with a minimum height of 0.5 m, a mean height of approximately 0.975 m, and a maximum potential height reaching up to 3 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

0.975 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Arctium minus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common mechanism for temperate species that optimizes carbon fixation under moderate environmental conditions. The plant exhibits significant morphological variation in its foliage, with leaf widths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 27.5 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 27.5 cm. These leaves are expansive, reaching a maximum length of 50 cm and maintaining a mean leaf size of 1170 cm². The efficiency of its leaf structure is further reflected in a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 240.67 cm²/g, indicating its resource allocation strategy between leaf area and biomass. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the uptake of nitrogen available within the soil substrate to support its growth and metabolic processes.

Leaf length max:

50 cm

Leaf size mean:

1170 cm²

Leaf width mean:

27.5 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

240.67 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Arctium minus is primarily sexual, characterized by bisexual flowers that facilitate the plant's reproductive cycle. The flowering period typically begins in July and extends through September. During this phase, the plant relies on biotic pollination, specifically utilizing an insect pollination syndrome to achieve fertilization, as self-fertilization is noted to be absent. The resulting fruit is an indehiscent achene with an average length of 0.7 cm. This plant is highly prolific, producing a vast quantity of seeds, with counts often exceeding 1,000 seeds per fruit. The individual seeds exhibit a consistent length of 8 mm (ranging from a minimum to a maximum of 8 mm) and have a mean seed mass of approximately 0.010592143 g, with values ranging from a minimum of 0.005 g to a maximum of 0.01737 g. Regarding dispersal, Arctium minus employs an unspecialized strategy that specifically includes epizoochorous mechanisms, allowing seeds to be carried by animals. Asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

epizoochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit length mean:

0.7 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

8 mm

Seed mass max:

0.01737 g

Seed mass mean:

0.010592143 g

Seed mass min:

0.005 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Arctium minus has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Chemicals

Arctium minus has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Fatty acids, LINOLELAIDIC ACID, Lignans.

Fatty acids

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

LINOLELAIDIC ACID

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Lignans

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Activities

Arctium minus has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Arctium minus has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include bacterial infections, immune disorders, wounds.

Bacterial infections

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Immune disorders

1. Teratogenesis, carcinogenesis, and mutagenesis

Wounds

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology