burdock
burdock
Any plant of the genus Arctium, in the Asteraceae family, bearing globular flower heads with prickly bracts. Native to Europe and Asia, burdock species have been naturalized throughout North America. They are cultivated for their edible root in Asia but are regarded as weeds in the U.S. Their fruits are round burrs that stick to clothing and fur.
This entry comes from Encyclopædia Britannica Concise.
For the full entry on burdock, visit Britannica.com.
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