SYMPHYTUM tuberosum.
Tuberous,-rooted Comfrey.
PENTANDRIA Monogynia.
G en. Char, Limb of the corolla tubular, swelling;
its orifice closed with awl-shaped rays. Cal. in 5
deep segments. Seeds 4, naked.
Spec. Char. Leaves ovate, slightly decurrent; the
upper ones opposite.
Syn. Symphytum tuberosum, Linn. Sp. P I. 195.
L ig h tf. 1091. Sm. FI. B rit, 219. Huds. 648.
W ith. 230. H ull. 47. Jacq. O bs.fa sc. S. 12,
t. 63, Ger. em. 806.
W e have been obliged to delineate this plant from a garden
specimen at Mr. Forster’s of Clapton; for although it has been
sent us from Durham, many different times, by Mr. Robson,
we were never so fortunate as to receive it in a fit state for
drawing. W e know it to be what Lightfoot intended^ and we
believe it may not be rare in the northern counties, though so
like the Common Comfrey as to be neglected for a starved
plant of that species.
It is perennial and flowers in June or July. Root tuberous,
white externally, not black. Stem a foot high, scarcely
winged, rough with deflexed hairs. Stem-leaves ovate, on
winged stalks, which are a little decurrent. Clusters of flowers
in pairs, terminal. Flowers few, yellowish white, cylindrical.
Calyx but little spreading. Rays of the flower finely toothed,
or roughish, at each edge, rather longer than in S. officinale.
Mr. Lightfoot, on the authority of his friend Yalden, first
introduced this plant to British botanists,