Petasites hybridus 紫蜂斗菜, 歐蜂斗菜

Common name: Butterbur
Scientific name: Petasites hybridus 紫蜂斗菜, 歐蜂斗菜
Genus:  Petasites 蜂斗菜屬
Family: Asteraceae or Compositae 菊科, aster , daisy, composite or sunflower family

Remarks:  It is a dioecious plant 雌雄異株. In Britain, the male plants are widespread, but the female plants have a restricted distribution in northern and central England. Male-only colonies are probably single clones, many perhaps from deliberate plantings for a source of pollen and nectar for hive bees. It spreads mostly vegetatively from rhizome fragments.

Its common name derives from its large, heart-shaped leaves that were used to wrap butter in the past. Its generic name Petasites is derived from the Greek petasos, meaning a 'broad-brimmed felt hat' which also refers to the enormous leaves.

Origin: native

Date:  18th March & (18th April)

a riverside colony

a few leaves already appear

a flowering stalk and a leaf on its left hand side

photos above and belows: flower bud in different stages

rhizome and the roots

leaf is emerging on the left

flowering stalk

flower buds

A male flower, the bulb-like structure protuding in the centre of the flower is actually the pollen presenter instead of stigma.

leaf will soon be unfolded

newly unfolded leaf

withering flowering stalk

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The following photos were taken on another location on 18th April.

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