Petasites hybridus, Butterburr

Scientific Name: Petasites hybridus

Petasites hybridus, more commonly known as Butterbur, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Asteraceae that is native to Europe and northern Asia. Although used over centuries in traditional medicine to treat various disorders, there are no approved medical uses, but it is sold as a dietary supplement. Concerns about the potential toxic effects of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in butterbur limit its use in human and animal studies. Butterbur may have derived from the use of leaves to wrap butter centuries ago. It is also called Bog Rhubarb, Devil's Hat, and Pestilence Wort.

The species is dioecious, the male and female flowers being borne on separate plants. In Britain, the male flowers are widespread, but the female flowers have a restricted distribution in northern and central England. The flowers are produced in the early spring, before the leaves appear. They are pale pink, with several inflorescences clustered on a single stem. The round leaves are large, on stout, tall stems.

It is native to central Europe, extending from the British Isles to the Caucasus, and from southern Italy to southern Scandinavia. It is present as an introduced species in North America. In the British Isles, female plants are rarely found outside central and northern England and the species may be naturalized as clonal populations outside this area, propagating via rhizome fragments. The preferred habitats are moist, fertile soils often by rivers, streams, and in wet meadows.

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