common butterbur

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• butterbur
• pestilence wort
• purple butterbur
• bog-rhubarb
• umbrella-plant
• Common Butterbur
• butterfly dock

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cineraria hybrida
• Tussilago petasites var. hybrida
• Tussilago hybrida

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales, it is further categorized into the family Asteraceae. Ultimately, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by its membership in the genus Petasites.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Petasites hybridus, is found across several regions in Northern Europe. Specifically, its presence is documented throughout the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. The species also inhabits various landscapes within Finland and Norway. Furthermore, it can be located across the islands of Great Britain. Finally, its geographical range extends to the lush terrains of Ireland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Petasites hybridus is closely tied to environments characterized by high moisture availability and consistent hydration. This species primarily colonizes wet meadows and thrives along the margins of rivers, where the soil remains saturated or undergoes periodic inundation. Such riparian and hygrophilous habitats provide the necessary damp substrate required for its expansive rhizomatous growth and vigorous vegetative spread. By occupying these transitional zones between aquatic and terrestrial landscapes, the plant plays a functional role in stabilizing riverbanks and contributing to the complex organic structure of wetland ecosystems.

Habitat :

meadows: wet, rivers

Life history

The life history of Petasites hybridus is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its habitat through multiple growing seasons. As a cryptophyte, it employs specialized survival strategies to endure unfavorable conditions, specifically functioning as a geophyte where its vital organs are protected underground. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Petasites hybridus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. The plant is a self-supporting organism that does not function as a climber or a liana, and it grows as an independent species without parasitic tendencies. It is a terrestrial plant rather than an aquatic or epiphytic one. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variability in height, ranging from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 1.2 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.575 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.2 m

Plant height mean:

0.575 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Petasites hybridus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which is typical for temperate herbaceous perennials operating in environments where carbon fixation occurs via the Calvin cycle. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the digestion of prey. Morphologically, it produces remarkably large leaves with a mean surface area of 1398.75 cm², facilitating significant light interception. This expansive leaf structure is complemented by a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 220.4 cm²/g, indicating a relatively thin and high-surface-area leaf construction that optimizes gas exchange and light capture efficiency.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

1398.75 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

220.4 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Petasites hybridus is primarily driven by sexual processes, as asexual reproduction is notably absent. The flowering period is relatively concentrated, typically beginning and ending in April. This reproductive cycle relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically involving insects, with bees acting as a key pollinator. While the plant is capable of self-fertilization, it engages in these biotic interactions to ensure genetic exchange. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fruit in the form of an achene. The resulting seeds are quite small, with a mean mass of 0.000214 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00017 g to a maximum of 0.00026 g. These seeds are characterized by an indehiscent dehiscent pattern, meaning the fruit does not split open at maturity to release the seeds. Finally, the dispersal of the seeds follows an anemochorous syndrome, utilizing the wind to spread the offspring to new locations.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00026 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000214 g

Seed mass min:

0.00017 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Petasites hybridus has 3 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, rhizome, flower.

Leaf

1. Planta medica
2. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
3. Biochemical systematics and ecology

Rhizome

1. Planta medica
2. International journal of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
3. Biochemical systematics and ecology

Flower

1. Biochemical systematics and ecology

Chemicals

Petasites hybridus has 89 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Isopetasin, Petasin, SENECIONINE, Neopetasin, Senkirkine.

Isopetasin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
3. Planta medica
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Petasin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology
4. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

SENECIONINE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports
3. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
4. Biochemical systematics and ecology

Neopetasin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
3. Planta medica

Senkirkine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports
3. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Furanopetasin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

S-Petasin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food & function

Senecionine N-oxide

1. Scientific reports
2. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Angelic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Arachic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Petasites hybridus has 295 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Carcinogenic, Antioxidant, Hepatotoxic, Mutagenic, Spasmolytic.

Carcinogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports
3. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Hepatotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Mutagenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports

Spasmolytic

1. Forschende Komplementarmedizin und klassische Naturheilkunde = Research in complementary and natural classical medicine
2. Biochemical systematics and ecology

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Petasites hybridus has 20 reported investigations on conditions identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include migraine, asthma, Allergic Rhinitis, allergic reactions, allergic rhinitis.

Migraine

1. Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology
2. Forschende Komplementarmedizin und klassische Naturheilkunde = Research in complementary and natural classical medicine
3. International journal of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR
5. CNS drugs

Asthma

1. Planta medica
2. Forschende Komplementarmedizin und klassische Naturheilkunde = Research in complementary and natural classical medicine
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Allergic rhinitis

1. Advances in respiratory medicine

Allergic reactions

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Allergic rhinitis

1. PloS one

Anxiety

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Arthritis

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Breast cancer

1. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)

Cancer

1. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)

Cough

1. Planta medica

Preparations

Petasites hybridus has 14 reported preparations identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Petasites hybridus extract, Extracts from Petasites hybridus, Herbmix, Petasites hybridus extract (Ze 339), Petasites hybridus extracts.

Petasites hybridus extract

1. Planta medica
2. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)

Extracts from petasites hybridus

1. Planta medica

Herbmix

1. PloS one

Petasites hybridus extract (ze 339)

1. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Petasites hybridus extracts

1. Planta medica

Alcoholic extracts

1. Planta medica

Dry extracts

1. Molecular medicine reports

Ethanolic extracts

1. Planta medica

Extracts

1. Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology

Extracts of a small piece of rhizome

1. Planta medica