Burdock

Arctium lappa

This plant is very widely distributed and can be found growing in field borders, roadsides, and empty spaces across China, Europe, Britain, North America and several other landmasses. Most people are familiar with the flowers of Burdock which form globe shaped clusters around the top of the stem covered with a dense alignment of stiff "hooks" that will cling to anything they touch. The root is very delicious and is served in Chinese, Korean, and other Asian dishes prepared by peeling and cooking the whole root. The leaves of some species can reach 3 feet in diameter and produce very large roots. Burdock is a member of the Sunflower, or Compositae, family and is sometimes called beggar's buttons, or thorny burr.