New Zealand Department of Agriculture.

Manawatu Herald, 18 April 1895, Page 3

New Zealand Department of Agriculture.

This plant is a native of Europe and some portions of Asia. It was introduced a few years ago, probably amongst agricultural seeds from England, and may now be found extending from Hawke'a Bay to Fox ton, but is specially thick about Hutiterville, and I have leoently received specimens from both Canterbury and Ofcago. Mr Colenso records it as having been first seen by him in Hawke'a Bay in 1882, one plant only, now there are thousands. An herbaceous plant, with a tap root much resembling that of the common dock, the root leaves, which spread out flat on the ground, areiWftfewhat heart-shaped, more or less* waved, and very large, sometimes fully the size of giant rhubarb. Themarginß of the leaveß are not nojfijied. The flowering stem grows froi&duto sft high, branches freely, andbears hundreds of flower heads, which develop into large rounded burrs fully an inch in diameter, armed with numerous hooked prickles. Each burr contains many seeflsYTha tails and manes of horses may frequently, in the districts mentioned, be seen standing out stiff, the hooked burrs having con\ert«Mhe tail into a solid mass resembling a club. The effect on wool may be easily imagined*. This plant is a dangerous weed, and no pains should be spared to eradicate any specimen which may U)fftftoft!lltfft

This may be done by frequeni cutting below the crown before seeds are developed, but if the seed hai ripened then be careful to burn thi tops. Keeping it from seeding fo; two seasons will clear the ground. The plant has, however, somi uses. Sowerby, in his "Usefu Plants of Great Britain " says " The stalks of the burdock, cv before the flowers open and stripped of their rind, form a delicate veget able when boiled, similar in flavou to asparagus. In the raw state the; may be eaten, with oil and vinegar as salad. They were sometime candied with sugar in the time c Bryajsf^as those of angelica are Thfeyare slightly laxative, but per f^ctly wholesome. " The roots of the plant ar midly diuretic and diaphoretic, an< have been used with advantage ii gout, rheumatism, and calculou complaints. The decoction of th root is generally employed, but th seeds and leaves posses? nearly th same properties, though the latte are slightly purgative. The bruise* leaves are applied by the peasants in some districts* ia cataplasms t the feet, a* a remedy for hysterica disorders." Arctium minu». Similar to above, bnfc smalle specimens received from Nelson am Marlborough.

Fig. 1. Outline of root-leaf from New Zealand specimen, greatly reduced. Fig. 2. For tion of stem with leaf and burrs, natural size, after Yasey.