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Symphytum officinale

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A plant by Agnieszka Kwiecień, Wikipedia.org.


The leaves from Powo.science.kew.org.


The flowers from Powo.science.kew.org.

Author: 

Carl von Linnaeus, 1753

Family:  BORAGINACEAE
Origin: 

Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan,  Netherlands, North Caucasus, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, West Siberia, Yugoslavia

Soil: 

Rich - Poor

Water: 

Maximum

Sun: 

Medium - Maximum

Thickness: 

2 Centimetres

Height: 

30-90 Centimetres

Flower: 

White, Cream, Pink, Purplish

Propagate: 

Seeds

Names: 

Comfrey, Quaker Comfre, Boneset, Knitbone, Consound, Slippery-Root, Black Wort, Bruise Wort, Knitback, Lęge-Kulsukker

Synonyms: 

Symphytum officinale subsp. bohemicum, Čelak.
Symphytum officinale
subsp. uliginosum, Nyman

This member of the Boraginaceae family was given this name by Carl von Linnaeus in 1753. It is found in most of Europe and have been successfully introduced to a wide range of temperate countries, from the Americas to Asia. It is growing in a rich soil but is not picky. Quite some water and some to lots of sun. The caudex is consisting of several thickened roots of which each can grow to two centimetres in diameter. The entire plant will grow from 30 to 90 centimetres in height. The flowers are from white over cream and pink to purplish.

The genera name from the Greek symphis, meaning "growing together of bones", and phyton, "a plant", referring to its ancient medical uses. The species name means "of practical use to man".


The swollen roots from Stock.adobe.com.


The flowers close up from Powo.science.kew.org.