Symphytum

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This article is about the genus of plants known as comfrey. For the place, see Comfrey, Minnesota.

Symphytum
Symphytum caucasicum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Boraginales
Family: Boraginaceae
Subfamily: Boraginoideae
Genus: Symphytum
L.
Type species
Symphytum officinale
L.
Species

See text.

Symphytum is a

hybrids, particularly S. officinale, Symphytum grandiflorum, and S. × uplandicum, are used in gardening and herbal medicine. They are not to be confused with Andersonglossum virginianum, known as wild comfrey, another member of the borage family.[2]

Species

Species include:

Russian comfrey (Symphytum × uplandicum)
Flowers of Russian comfrey

Cultivation

The Russian comfrey 'Bocking 14' cultivar was developed during the 1950s by

organic gardening organization itself named after Henry Doubleday, who first introduced Russian comfrey into Britain in the nineteenth century) following trials at Bocking, Essex.[4]

Propagation

Bocking 14 is sterile, and therefore will not set seed (one of its advantages over other cultivars as it will not spread out of control); thus, it is propagated from

root cuttings. The gardener can produce "offsets" from mature, strongly growing plants by driving a spade horizontally through the leaf clumps about 7 cm (2.8 in) below the soil surface. This removes the crown, which can then be split into pieces. The original plant will quickly recover, and each piece can be replanted with the growing points just below the soil surface, and will quickly grow into new plants. Offsets can also be purchased by mail order from specialist nurseries in order to initially build up a stock of plants.[5]

Phytochemistry, folk medicine, and toxicity

Folk medicine names for comfrey include knitbone, boneset, and the derivation of its Latin name Symphytum (from the Greek symphis, meaning growing together of bones, and phyton, a plant), referring to its ancient uses. Similarly, the common French name is consoude, meaning to weld together. The tradition in different cultures and languages suggest a common belief in its usefulness for mending bones.

Comfrey contains mixed

herbalism, comfrey is most commonly used topically.[6][8][9]

In 2001, the United States Food and Drug Administration issued a ban of comfrey products marketed for internal use, and a warning label for those intended for external use. [10] [11] Comfrey is particularly contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation, in infants, and in people with liver, kidney, or vascular diseases.[6][12]

References

  1. ^ WFO (2022): Symphytum L. Published on the Internet; http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-4000037231. Accessed on: 14 Dec 2022
  2. ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Cynoglossum virginianum". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
  3. ^ "Symphytum ibericum". rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  4. ^ Alfrey, Paul (3 June 2016). "Comfrey – BELIEVE the HYPE!". Permaculture Research Institute. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  5. ^ Teynor, Putnam, Doll, Kelling, Oelke, Undersander, and Oplinger. "Comfrey". Alternative Field Crops Manual. University of Wisconsin, Extension, Cooperative-Extension. Retrieved 25 March 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ a b c d "Comfrey". Drugs.com. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  7. PMID 21170807
    .
  8. PMID 2399473
    .
  9. PMID 9818800
    .
  10. ^ "FDA/CFSAN – FDA Advises Dietary Supplement Manufacturers to Remove Comfrey Products From the Market (archived copy)". Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
  11. PMID 14518351
    .
  12. S2CID 42511497
    .

External links
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