Flolape

Bog-Rhubarb

Petasites hybridus (L.) G.Gaertn., B.Mey. & Scherb.
Bog-Rhubarb
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-4.0)

Petasites hybridus, also known as butterbur, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to Europe and northern Asia. It is used in traditional medicine but has no approved medical uses and is sold as a dietary supplement. The presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids raises concerns about its potential toxicity in human and animal studies.

Description

Petasites hybridus is a member of the Asteraceae family and is commonly referred to as butterbur or Bog-Rhubarb. It is distributed across regions including British Columbia, Quebec, and various European countries. This plant has a long history of use in traditional medicine for treating various conditions, though it is not approved for medical use and is marketed as a dietary supplement. Its use is limited due to the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are associated with potential toxic effects.

Other common names

Bog-RhubarbButterburButterfly-DockPestilence WortPurple ButterburUmbrella-PlantCommon Butterbur

Distribution

British Columbia · Quebec · IS · SE · NO · DK · Flanders · Estonia · Latvia · Lithuania · Denmark · Finland · Norway · Sweden · Vermont-US · EE · FI · LV · LT · conterminous 48 United States · Belgium · Brussels-Capital Region · Flemish Region · Walloon Region · Albania · Algeria · Austria · Baltic States · Belarus · Bulgaria

Synonyms

Petasites georgicusPetasites vulgarisCineraria hybridaPetasites pratensisPetasites officinalisTussilago petasitesTussilago hybridaPetasites ovatusPetasites hybridus subsp. georgicus

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