Nature's Velcro - the "take me with you" seed pod with the gourmet root

A burdock skeleton with burrs still clinging from last fall.

A cluster of young burdock leaves from several first year plants.

A burdock rosette - young plant, no center stalk.

BIG Leaves - no wonder it has a nickname of "elephant ears"!

Can you read that measure tape? It says 19 inches long! This is not a super-sized leaf, more of the average full-grown leaf size around here. Amazing aren't they?


Yup, this is another of "those weeds" that once you see the pictures, you know you have seen it, and likely had an unpleasant encounter with those "take me with you" seed pods.

Legend has it that velcro as we know it was created by an inventor who had an encounter with a burdock seed pod - or burdock burr.

Burdock
A.K.A. Beggar’s Buttons, Elephant Ears

Botanical Name: Artium lappa, artium minus

Type: Biennial

Parts: Roots, seeds, leaves, stalks, whole plant.

For: Roots, & stalks for salad or greens; seeds and roots medicinally; leaves for poultice. This commonly cursed “weed” is a truly valuable plant.
The root is elegant gourmet cuisine in Italy, Japan, and Hawaii. I have seen the root sold in the produce market for $6+ per pound.

I've posted a link below to seeds-of-change who is selling a small packet of the seeds for $3.29. You could get enough seeds for a packet size from a handful of burrs stuck to your jacket after you cut down the skeleton in the fall.

The leaves are really quite bitter to eat. They are edible, but after you taste them you'll argue with me that you're not "that" hungry. BUT those large "elephant ear" leaves are valuable. Yes, they are highly nutritious if your tastebuds were willing, but their other use is for healing. An Amish friend of ours calls them
one of the best topical remedies for a skin burn. Used poltice style.

As for the truly, taste-bud pleasing edible part, it's the root.
Pull the first year roots or second year young stalks, peel and eat cooked or raw as you would a carrot or yam. Check out the sidebar for more on how to tell what & when to harvest.
Check out some links below for some tasty recipes!

An herb to use during pregnancy, it aids in balancing hormones and helps prevent water retention and jaundice in babies. An “alterative” meaning it’s a good source of nutrients and aids in the assimilation of nutrients and helping build the body. A blood purifier and cleanser and an antidote for acute poisoning. Used as a poultice for sores, bug bites and skin cancer. Excellent for treating iron deficiencies.

Here's some more interesting links about it:
http://www.seedsofchange.com/garden_center/product_details.aspx?item_no=S10756
http://www.learningherbs.com/burdock_recipe.html
http://www.prodigalgardens.info/burdock%20recipes.htm
http://www.moscowfood.coop/archive/burdock.html
http://herbalmusings.com/Burdock.htm
http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Burdock.html You'll find nice pics of burdock here.