Common comfrey
Symphytum officinale
- Description: Perennial plant with turnip-like, black root, square stalk and alternate, coarse lance-shaped broad leaves. In the axils at the end of the stalks there are blue-violet flowers. The whole plant has coarsely hairy surface.
- Ecology: It occurs in all Europe, growing in damp meadows, ditches, riparian forests, near rivers and bush. Flowers appear in May-September.
- Use: It has been used for healing purposes since the ancient times, especially for abrasions and fractures.
- Interesting facts: The long time history of common comfrey´s healing effects is proved also by its scientific name derived from the Greek word symphytos, meaning: grown together.