Herb. No. 067 · Asteraceae
Eurasian biennial of disturbed ground; a Japanese vegetable as gobo.
Native · Europe · East Asia
Native Also grown
OpenGentleplant
Burdock
Arctium lappa
The burr that invented Velcro — a deep bitter root for skin and sluggish digestion.
First-year root is the medicine and the food. Traditional European 'blood cleanser' use sits next to Japanese kinpira gobo. Second-year plants bolt and the root turns woody. Identify by the huge leaves and hooked burrs.
Flavor
Earthy, artichoke-bitter, a little sweet when roasted — like a wild salsify.
Parts used
First-year root · Young leaf (food, bitter) · Seed (traditional, stronger)
In favor
- Real vegetable
- Easy from seed
- Deep taproot mines minerals
Against
- Digging is work
- Seed is a stronger, less kitchen-like drug
- Asteraceae allergy