- Symphytum officinale
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This article is about the species. For the use of comfrey in gardening and herbal medicine, see Comfrey.
Symphytum officinale 
Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Asterids Order: (unplaced) Family: Boraginaceae Genus: Symphytum Species: S. officinale Binomial name Symphytum officinale
L.Synonyms Consolida majoris
Symphitum officinale (orth.var.)Symphytum officinale is a perennial flowering plant of the genus Symphytum in the family Boraginaceae. Along with several other species of Symphytum, it is commonly known as comfrey. To differentiate it from other comfreys, this species may be known as common comfrey,[1] Quaker comfrey,[1] and cultivated comfrey.[1] Other common names include boneset,[2] knitbone,[2] consound,[2] and slippery-root.[2] It is native to Europe and it is known elsewhere, including North America, as an introduced species and sometimes a weed.
Description
The hardy plant can grow to a height of one meter.
Comfrey has been used in folk medicine as a poultice for treating burns and wounds. However, internal consumption, such as in the form of herbal tea, is discouraged, as it has been highly debated about whether it can cause serious liver damage.[3].
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flowers
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foliage
References
- ^ a b c The potential of Russian comfrey (Symphytum officinale) as an animal feedstuff in Uganda
- ^ a b c d GRIN Species Profile
- ^ Oberlies, Nicholas H. et al., "Analysis of herbal teas made from the leaves of comfrey (Symphytum officinale)", Public Health Nutrition 7 (7): 919–924, http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FPHN%2FPHN7_07%2FS1368980004001156a.pdf&code=f5f837200b6f79862cf84720c13bb8d5
External links
Categories:- Symphytum
- Demulcents
- Asterid stubs
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