Arctium minus
Lesser burdock
Arctium minus, commonly known as lesser burdock, is a resilient perennial herb valued in traditional medicine. Renowned for its potent anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties, it is frequently used to support skin health and blood purification. This versatile plant offers a natural approach to managing various systemic inflammatory conditions.
- Scientific name: Arctium minus
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Europe
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.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Arctium | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Arctium minus, is recognized by various regional names across different languages. In French, it is referred to as Petite bardane, while in Faroese, it is called Letj bor. Its Catalan name is repalassa petita, and in Finnish, it is known as pikkutakiainen. Finally, in Estonian, the plant is called väike takjas.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| fr | Petite bardane | Wikidata |
| frr | Letj bor | Wikidata |
| ca | repalassa petita | Wikidata |
| fi | pikkutakiainen | Wikidata |
| et | väike takjas | Wikidata |
| de | Kleine Klette | Wikidata |
| nn | Småborre | Wikidata |
| az | Xırda atpıtrağı | Wikidata |
| sv | Liten kardborre | Wikidata |
| ar | أرقطيون صغير | Wikidata |
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.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as lesser burdock, is particularly noted for its specialized fruits, which are technically small, dry achenes. These fruits are enclosed in a hooked, bur-like structure designed for zoochory, allowing them to cling easily to the fur of animals or the clothing of humans for seed dispersal. While the roots are often the most discussed medicinal component, these unique fruits play a crucial role in the plant's reproductive cycle and are a defining characteristic of the species.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| fruits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Arctium minus has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include fatty acids, lignans, linolelaidic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| fatty acids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lignans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| linolelaidic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Arctium minus has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Arctium minus has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include bacterial infections, immune disorders, wounds.
- Total uses
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| bacterial infections | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| immune disorders | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wounds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |