IDENTIFICATION
Regional Noxious. Biennial.
Common burdock is well-known for producing the prickly burrs that
so easily attach to clothing and animals. These are formed from the purple
flowers that are scattered in rounded clusters along the stems. The leaves
are toothed or wavy-edged, broad, dark green, and woolly underneath. The
mature plant is 1-3 m tall and has a large fleshy taproot.
DAMAGE
Common burdock is intolerant of cultivation. Livestock eat the
leaves, and the foliage can impart a bitter taste in milk. Burrs can become
entangled in the fleece of sheep, damaging the quality and reducing the
value of wool. Burdock has diuretic properties. Large leaves harvested
with forage crops can result in mouldy hay.
HABITAT
Common burdock is found at low- to mid-elevations in grasslands
and forests, along roadsides, ditches, stream banks, pastures, and disturbed
habitats. It is frequent in coastal, west central, and southern British
Columbia and a major concern in the Okanagan, Thompson, Cariboo, Omineca,
and Peace regions.
SPREAD
Burr-like seed heads are readily dispersed by attaching to animal fur
or clothing.
