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Photographer: Janice Stiefel
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Family Asteraceae
Arctium lappa L.
great burdock
Arctium: from Greek arction, the name of a plant taken from arctos, "bear," because of the rough involucre
lappa: Latin name for a bur, rough
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| Status: | Introduced - locally established |
| Plant: | erect, biennial, 3'-9' tall forb |
| Flower: | head up to 1 1/2" wide with pink to purplish disk flowers, bracts (phyllaries) with hooks curving inward; inflorescence a cluster of long-stalked heads; blooms Aug.-Oct. |
| Fruit: | round, bristly, 1/2" clinging bur (inspiration for Velcro) |
| Leaf: | alternate, large, heart-shaped base, on stalks getting shorter toward the top, lower stalks almost solid |
| Habitat: | roadsides, disturbed sites |
| (Glossary) |
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