prickly comfrey

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• prickly comfrey
• rough comfrey

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Symphytum asperum var. armeniacum
• Symphytum armeniacum
• Symphytum echinatum
• Symphytum asperrimum aureovariegatum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Boraginales and the family Boraginaceae, it is classified under the genus Symphytum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated across several regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. Its presence also extends to the northern territories of Finland and Norway. Furthermore, the species is well-distributed throughout the British Isles, specifically within Great Britain and Ireland. Together, these locations define its primary natural range within the northernmost parts of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Symphytum asperum is characterized by its ability to thrive in diverse and often transitional landscapes. It is commonly found colonizing forest edges, where it benefits from the interplay of light and shade, as well as across hills and meadows that provide ample space for growth. The species also demonstrates a strong affinity for mountainous regions and the riparian zones of rivers, suggesting a preference for environments that offer consistent moisture levels and nutrient-rich soils. This broad distribution across varied elevations and moisture gradients allows the plant to occupy various ecological niches, from sheltered woodland margins to more exposed, open terrains.

Habitat :

forest edges, hills, meadows, mountains, rivers

Life history

The life history of Symphytum asperum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, it maintains its perennuating buds at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or ground cover during unfavorable periods. This species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness trait, maintaining its vegetative presence across different stages of its seasonal cycle.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Symphytum asperum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. As a self-supporting plant, it does not function as a climber or a liana, maintaining an upright stature without the need for external support. The plant is primarily terrestrial in its habitat, existing as an independent organism rather than acting as a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of size, it typically reaches a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.8 m to a maximum of 1.75 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.75 m

Plant height min:

0.8 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Symphytum asperum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency under specific environmental conditions. As a non-carnivorous species, the plant relies entirely on its root system and soil nutrient availability for sustenance rather than capturing prey. Furthermore, it does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, relying instead on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the substrate.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Symphytum asperum is characterized by a seasonal flowering period that typically begins in June and concludes in August. The plant relies on sexual reproduction, as asexual reproduction is noted to be absent. Following fertilization, the plant produces fruit in the form of an achene, which is an indehiscent type. These fruits maintain an average length of approximately 0.4 cm. The resulting seeds are highly uniform in weight, with a consistent mean, minimum, and maximum seed mass of 0.00486 g. Regarding the spread of offspring, the species utilizes an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, indicating that it does not rely on a specific specialized mechanism for seed movement.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length mean:

0.4 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass mean:

0.00486 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Symphytum asperum has 5 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antiinflammatory, Antilipoperoxidant, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic.

Antibacterial

1. Pharmaceutics

Antiinflammatory

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Antilipoperoxidant

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Antioxidant

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Medicinal Uses

Symphytum asperum has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include burns.

Most Reported Uses