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''Symphytum tuberosum'', the tuberous comfrey, is a species of ''
Tuberous comfrey flowers from April to June, however it also reproduces asexually, that is vegetatively, having rhizomes that allow it to spread out from the original site, colonising and competing as it grows. This process continues into the autumn and the young clonal plants can be seen at this time of year, whilst the parent plants leaves are rotting down. Being very hardy, this plant is well able to survive northern winters.The Flora of Skye
/ref> Both the stems and leaves are softly hairy, the leaves have deep veining.
/ref> The flowers themselves are a subtle pale creamy yellow, a significant characteristic for separating its identity from the purple flowered Russian Comfrey. The usual pollinators are the common carder
and distribution maps show the species to be common in Scotland and present, but uncommon, throughout much of England and Wales. The Isle of Skye now has a well-established and wide distribution thanks to planting, this has also occurred in Ireland. The North American west coast has a number of introduced ''S. tuberosum'' sites.
Scottish plant uses
/ref> In these traditional cures, the recipes make use of the leaves & roots, the former being used to speed up the healing of minor abrasions through their being applied directly to the damaged skin under a compress.
Symphytum
''Symphytum'' is a genus of flowering plants in the borage family, Boraginaceae, known by the common name comfrey (pronounced ). There are 59 recognized species.WFO (2022): Symphytum L. Published on the Internet; http://www.worldfloraonline.org/ ...
'' in the family Boraginaceae
Boraginaceae, the borage or forget-me-not family, includes about 2,000 species of shrubs, trees and herbs in 146, to 156 genera with a worldwide distribution.
The APG IV system from 2016 classifies the Boraginaceae as single family of the or ...
.
Species characteristics
Tuberous comfrey flowers from April to June, however it also reproduces asexually, that is vegetatively, having rhizomes that allow it to spread out from the original site, colonising and competing as it grows. This process continues into the autumn and the young clonal plants can be seen at this time of year, whilst the parent plants leaves are rotting down. Being very hardy, this plant is well able to survive northern winters.The Flora of Skye/ref> Both the stems and leaves are softly hairy, the leaves have deep veining.
/ref> The flowers themselves are a subtle pale creamy yellow, a significant characteristic for separating its identity from the purple flowered Russian Comfrey. The usual pollinators are the common carder
bumble bee
A bumblebee (or bumble bee, bumble-bee, or humble-bee) is any of over 250 species in the genus ''Bombus'', part of Apidae, one of the bee families. This genus is the only extant group in the tribe Bombini, though a few extinct related genera ...
, honey bee
A honey bee (also spelled honeybee) is a eusocial flying insect within the genus ''Apis'' of the bee clade, all native to Afro-Eurasia. After bees spread naturally throughout Africa and Eurasia, humans became responsible for the current cosm ...
, and red mason bee. The stem and leaves are clothed with soft hairs. The stem usually remains unbranched and the leaves are distinctly veined with a clear reduction in size from top to base.
Distribution
''Symphytum tuberosum'' can be found throughout Europe. In Great Britain it is naturally less common in the south,Natural Englandand distribution maps show the species to be common in Scotland and present, but uncommon, throughout much of England and Wales. The Isle of Skye now has a well-established and wide distribution thanks to planting, this has also occurred in Ireland. The North American west coast has a number of introduced ''S. tuberosum'' sites.
Medicinal uses
Vernacular common names such as 'knitbone' reveal the healing role that tuberous comfrey and the various hybrid comfreys have played in herbal medicine throughout the ages./ref> In these traditional cures, the recipes make use of the leaves & roots, the former being used to speed up the healing of minor abrasions through their being applied directly to the damaged skin under a compress.
Culinary uses
In spring the fresh young leaves may be used as an herb in cooked recipes, however due to their hairy nature and mildly toxic properties they are not eaten raw. As with dandelion, the root makes a palatable and non-acidic alternative to coffee once prepared, roasted until brown & brittle, and grind it into a powder.References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q159613 tuberosum Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus