Arctium minus

Arctium minus is a biennial plant growing up to 1.8 metres (6 ft) tall^[5][6] and form multiple branches. It is large and bushy. The leaves are up to 50 cm (20 in) long and ovate. The lower leaves are heart-shaped and have very wavy margins. Leaves are dark green above and woolly below. It grows an extremely deep taproot, up to 30 cm (12 in) into the ground.^[7][8] The plant produces flowers in its second year of growth, from July to October. The flowers are prickly and pink to purple in color. The flower heads are about 2 cm (3⁄4 in) wide, surrounded by a cluster of bracts.^[5][6] The outer bracts end in hooks causing a hook-and-loop effect after the flower head dries, when the bracts will attach to humans and animals to transport the seedhead.^[9]

The flowers resemble and can be easily mistaken for thistles, but burdock can be distinguished by its extremely large leaves and its hooked bracts.

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  Flower
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  Flower buds

The plant is native to Europe,^[10] but has become introduced elsewhere such as Australia, North and South America, and other places.^{[11][12][13][14]}

The leafstalks (up to a year old), leaves,^[6] and flower stalks can be eaten raw or cooked. The roots are edible boiled with a change of water,^[5] though become too woody to eat in plants over a year old.^[15] The leaves can also be used to make herbal tea.^[6]