Arctium tomentosum, commonly known as the woolly burdock or downy burdock, is a species of burdock belonging to the family Asteraceae. The species was described by Philip Miller in 1768.

Distribution

This species is native to Eurasia from Spain to Xinjiang Province in western China. It is also naturalized in other parts of the world such as North America.

Description

Arctium tomentosum is a biennial herbaceous plant. The stem is erect, with ascending branches. It can reach a height of about 2 m. Leaves are grayish white and quite felted, green and glabrous toward the stem. Basal leaves are petiolate. Leaf blade is heart-shaped, with rather denticulater margins. They can reach a length of 20 - 50 cm and a width of 10 - 30 cm. Flowers are purplish red, with a diameter of 0.9 - 1.2 cm. This species can be distinguished from related ones because the underside of the leaves is covered with white woolly hairs. Flowers and fruits appear from July to September.

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