Plants and Mushrooms

Comfrey

Common name		Comfrey
Botanical name		Symphytum officinale
Other common names		-
Family		Boraginaceae
General description		A coarse, vigorous, clumping, tuberous perennial herb covered with stiff hairs growing to 90cm tall and up to 50cm wide. Cultivated for culinary or medicinal use.
Flowers		Flowers are mauve, purple or creamy yellow, bell-shaped and in clusters along one side of the flower stem, often drooping downwards.
Leaves		Leaves are covered with stiff hairs, oval to lance-shaped, arising from a basal rosette, decreasing in size towards the top of the plant; larger leaves to 25cm long. The leaf base is tapered into the stem giving a winged appearance.
Fruit/Berries		The fruit is a shiny, smooth black nut to 6mm.
Other
Symptoms		All parts of the plant are poisonous. Ingestion may cause delayed liver damage. Repeat exposure may lead to liver failure. Death has been reported. The stiff hairs on the leaves and stems can cause skin irritation.
Toxicity category		2
Warning		Seek medical attention if ingested.