Burdock
Diitiidʔaaʔtx̣: Kwitiskwtsapt
Latin: Arctium minus
Description: Burdock is a 1.5-meter-tall herbaceous plant with leafy stems and multiple branches. The leaves are egg-shaped with light fuzz underneath. The prickly flowers are purple and look similar to thistle. The fruit turns into brown burrs that stick easily to clothing and fur in the second year of growth.
Harvest and Sustainability: Burdock is an introduced species that survives due to its deep taproot and thrives in disturbed soils.
Uses: The leaves can be lightly chewed and applied to insect bites and stings to help relieve pain and itching. Crushed seeds are used as a poultice to relieve bruising. The roots can be harvested to make a tea to treat arthritis and cleanse the blood. It has a bitter flavour.
