What the heck plant is this?
June 30, 2017 6:32 AM Subscribe
I posted this picture on Mastodon and got no useful replies, so I figured I would try over here on the green.
Pictured is a green, leafy plant growing near my compost pile. I assume it sprouted from table scraps that I tossed out, though it could also be something native to the area (Downeast Maine) or something from a neighbour's yard. But I don't know what it actually is.
Any ideas?
Pictured is a green, leafy plant growing near my compost pile. I assume it sprouted from table scraps that I tossed out, though it could also be something native to the area (Downeast Maine) or something from a neighbour's yard. But I don't know what it actually is.
Any ideas?
2nding burdock.
posted by Funeral march of an old jawbone at 6:51 AM on June 30, 2017
posted by Funeral march of an old jawbone at 6:51 AM on June 30, 2017
Yep, seconding burdock. :)
posted by Guess What at 6:52 AM on June 30, 2017
posted by Guess What at 6:52 AM on June 30, 2017
Response by poster: Yeah, looking at some pictures of burdock, I'm pretty sure that's what it is. Might explain why my landscapers left it in place, too. (We asked them to give us an edible garden; burdock wasn't part of the plan, but it is apparently eaten in various East Asian cuisines.)
posted by tobascodagama at 6:54 AM on June 30, 2017
posted by tobascodagama at 6:54 AM on June 30, 2017
Best answer: Burdock root is actually very tasty - julienne and stir fry with olive oil and soy sauce. Never dug it up in the raw though....
posted by St. Peepsburg at 7:04 AM on June 30, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 7:04 AM on June 30, 2017 [5 favorites]
burdock wasn't part of the plan, but it is apparently eaten in various East Asian cuisinesI haven't eaten any other parts of the plant, but burdock root is delicious.
posted by Fish Sauce at 7:04 AM on June 30, 2017
Burdock has a long history of being eaten and used as folk medicine in the US! More than 200 years, in fact. There are different varieties. You can find recipes in southern, Appalachian, and country cookbooks from way back.
posted by Mo Nickels at 7:04 AM on June 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Mo Nickels at 7:04 AM on June 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: The other reason they might have left it is that the best time to kill burdock is evidently right before it seeds in the early fall.
But, yeah, I kind of want to try the root now.
posted by tobascodagama at 7:06 AM on June 30, 2017
But, yeah, I kind of want to try the root now.
posted by tobascodagama at 7:06 AM on June 30, 2017
Burdock was the inspiration for velcro! The seeds are amazingly sticky roughly 1" balls of... well, velcro hooks. Last time I had a plant, I'd chuck a few at friends and family for shits and giggles - they don't really hurt but they'll stick to virtually any cloth.
After that ran its course, I collected a basket full and shaped them in to a humanoid figure. I called it Burdock Man and it was a nice little piece of garden art before he ended up as a wicked cool fire starter.
My point is they are cool and interesting even if you don't eat the roots or use it medicinally, though it is good for that stuff too.
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:17 AM on June 30, 2017 [4 favorites]
After that ran its course, I collected a basket full and shaped them in to a humanoid figure. I called it Burdock Man and it was a nice little piece of garden art before he ended up as a wicked cool fire starter.
My point is they are cool and interesting even if you don't eat the roots or use it medicinally, though it is good for that stuff too.
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:17 AM on June 30, 2017 [4 favorites]
Kinpira-gobo is the classic Japanese recipe for burdock; highly recommended.
Seeing the picture, I realized I'd chucked a few of these "weeds" from my garden last month! If only I'd known they were gobo! <3
posted by homodachi at 7:24 AM on June 30, 2017 [4 favorites]
Seeing the picture, I realized I'd chucked a few of these "weeds" from my garden last month! If only I'd known they were gobo! <3
posted by homodachi at 7:24 AM on June 30, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm drooling while thinking of all the kinpira you're going to be enjoying.
posted by BlahLaLa at 7:49 AM on June 30, 2017
posted by BlahLaLa at 7:49 AM on June 30, 2017
Also, previously, "Is this thing named Audrey?". I remember this thread because it cracked me up every time I passed our burdock.
posted by slipthought at 8:06 AM on June 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by slipthought at 8:06 AM on June 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
Confirming burdock. I've spent nine years trying to get rid of it. Yes, smaller roots are delicious in a stir fry; I've found that older, more established roots tend to be tougher and woody.
There is no bad time to get rid of this plant if you regard it as a pest. Smaller roots are MUCH easier to dig out. By the time it's established, and especially when it has formed burrs, it's quite a pain--deeply rooted (like more deeply than you think) and spreading its seeds via any passing dog, cat, deer, critter, and person. Where I live, burdock has tried to take over my raspberries, and it tends to spread and shade out plants that I actually want, so I try to be ruthless in the springtime and uproot any burdock I see.
Annoyance or dinner? Both. But don't let it get out of hand; you will regret that decision.
posted by MonkeyToes at 8:45 AM on June 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
There is no bad time to get rid of this plant if you regard it as a pest. Smaller roots are MUCH easier to dig out. By the time it's established, and especially when it has formed burrs, it's quite a pain--deeply rooted (like more deeply than you think) and spreading its seeds via any passing dog, cat, deer, critter, and person. Where I live, burdock has tried to take over my raspberries, and it tends to spread and shade out plants that I actually want, so I try to be ruthless in the springtime and uproot any burdock I see.
Annoyance or dinner? Both. But don't let it get out of hand; you will regret that decision.
posted by MonkeyToes at 8:45 AM on June 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
Here's something else you can do with the root, from the Joe Beef cook book.
posted by Ashwagandha at 12:02 AM on July 1, 2017
posted by Ashwagandha at 12:02 AM on July 1, 2017
Yes, kinpira gobo! That's what I was referring to. Had it many times. Delicious!!
posted by St. Peepsburg at 1:35 PM on July 4, 2017
posted by St. Peepsburg at 1:35 PM on July 4, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by dr. boludo at 6:39 AM on June 30, 2017 [2 favorites]