Flower ID: IMG_1258.JPG-07-20-2017 Flower name (scientific): Arctium minus (Hill) Bernhardi PY: 1800. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) ARK-tee-um MY-nus Flower name (common): Common Burdock Family name (common): Aster Family name (scientific): Asteraceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Derived from the Greek arction, the name of a plant taken from arctos, meaning bear, because of the appearence of the spiny bracts. Specific epithet: Latin for smaller or less. Common name origin: From bur and dock. The flower is surrounded by an array of bracts with tiny hooks at the tips that resemble a bur, and the large leaves are like those of the dock (a Rumex species). Flower description: Size: 0.75 to 1.0 inches (1.9 to 2.5 cm). Petal count: Numerous disk florets; there are no ray florets. Color: Pink to purple (rarely white). Other: Bracts have hooks curving inward. Plant description: Erect, stem green to dark purple. Size: 18 to 60 inches (46 to 152 cm) tall. Stem hairy: Stem minutely hairy. Other: Leaf description: attachment is basal and alternate, type is simple. Petioles up to about 50 cm and leaf margins sunentire to coarsely dentate. Size: Basal leaves are 30 to 60 cm long and about 15 to 35 cm wide. Color: Upper surface medium green, lower surface pale green. Hairy: Upper surface sparsely short-hairy, lower surface densely covered in soft hairs. Other: Shape: leaf, ovate-cordate (MO) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced, ecologically invasive. Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): July to October Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Biennial Habitat: Disturbed sites, roadsides, waste areas, fields, woods, thickets, streambanks, sun or shade. Fruit: Brownish with multiple hooks that aid in seed dispersal. Seed: Light brown with darker patches to dark brown or grayish brown with blackish patches, about 5 to 6 mm long, with typically discernible ridges. Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): No close lookalikes. Ethnobotany: The Chippewa prepared a cough medicine from the leaves and the root for stomach pain (Densmore, p. 340, 1928; Smith, p. 363, 1932). The Meskwaki used the plant as an analgesic for women in labor (Smith, p. 211, 1928). The Potawatomi employed the plant as a blood medicine making a beverage from the roots (Smith, pp. 44-45, 1933). At least fourteen other tribes used this plant for medicinal purposes (Moerman, p. 84, 1998). Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Chippewa, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Pepin, Ozaukee, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (AB, BC, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: Lappa minor Hill Veg. Syst. 4: 28. 1762. Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 7 homotypic synonyms for this species. Heterotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 29 heterotypic synonyms for this species. Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): FACU Wetland Status (MW): FACU