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Lesser Burdoch - Purple Wildflowers -Arctium minus - Western Isles
Wildflowers & Flora of The Isle of Harris and The Isle of Lewis - Hebrides Flowers
These lovely purple thistle like flowers adorn the long stems throughout July to September in The Western Isles of Scotland. It is more well known for its "burrs", or hookd bracts that attach themselves to humans and animals as they pass, rather than its purple flowers.

Western Isles Wildflowers - Purple Wild flowers of The Hebrides
Lesser Burdoch - Purple WEstern Isles Wildflowers
Lesser Burdoch - Arctium minus
Western Isles Purple Wildflowers
 

Lesser Burdoch - Purple - Wild Flowers Seen All Over The Western Isles
Many think of this plant as a weed and indeed it does readily grow on rough ground and by the roadside edges, waste ground and alos in open woodland, however the purple thistlelike flowers that are splendidly large, being 3/4 inches (2 cm) in width are really very pretty.

Flowers
Out of each flower projects a deep purple column of fused stamens, the male, pollen producing organ. When the flowering cycle is over, the flower heads dry out to form the burr. The burrs last through the winter, sowing the enclosed seeds very cleverly by attaching themselves to passing animals or humans..

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Thistles - Seed Transportation
Many people mistake thes flowers for thistles, but the leaves of this plant help to identify it. The Lesser Burdoch plant can grow up to 5ft in height and is quite big and bushy. Outer bracts end in hooks that are like Velcro. After the flower head dries, the hooked bracts will attach to humans and animalsand the entire seedhead is transported in this way..


Not a Member of the "Dock" Family
Although the name suggests that this locely purple wildflower is a member of the "dock" famiily, it isnt, it actually belongs to the daisy (Asteraceae) family.

Biennial
The Lesser Burdock is a biennial, its purple flowers showing in its second year of growth

Name Derivation

The first syllable of the plants name Bur - comes from the French word "bourre", (originating from the Latin "burra" ) meaning a lock of wool, a reference which may have started out as sheep can often get the "burrs" of this plant caught in their coats. The second part of the name the English "dock" referring to the extremely huge large leaves.

Common Names

The lesser burdoch has many common names such as beggar's buttons, clot-bur, cocklebur, fox's clote,happy major, hardock, personata, and gypsy's or Robin Hood's rhubarb.
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Purple Wildflowers Western Isles - Lesser Burdoch - Hebrides Flora
  
Purple Wildflowers - Lesser Burdoch - Western Isles Flora
Lesser Burdoch Flowers
 
Purple Western Isles Flora - Lesser Burdoch

Uses

During the Middle Ages, burdock was believed to be very valuable in the treatment of diseases and common ailments. Also in the middlle ages knights often rode into battle with a sprig of burdock, which was said to protect and promote healing, particularly of the feet. A charm of burdock root, gathered under a waning moon and strung around the neck was also siad to ward away evil influences.

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Nowadays the burdock root is used by herbalists as a blood purifiers, and for treating chronic skin problems, eczema. Burdock can be either consumed--in tea or capsule form--or applied externally. It is said to help digestion, assist in getting rid of kidney stones, be good for the liver and alos improve hair growth as well as help with rheumatics.


Leaves
The broad leaves are huge, up to 50cm. The wavy leaves are spade-shaped or oval and are connected to the main stalk

by short hollow stems. The stalks are hairy. The undersides tend to be whitish green and slightly woolly. THe leaves look somewaht similar to that f rhubarb leaves, though they arent as shiny as rhubarb leaves.


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Wildflowers Western Isles - Lesser Burdoch Leaf
  
Purple Wildflowers - Lesser Burdoch - Western Isles Flora
A Close up Of the Lesser Burdoch Leaf
  
Purple Western Isles Flora - Lesser Burdock

Burdoch was the Inspiration behind the Invention of Velcro
Lesser burdoch was the inspiration for the invention of the useful product "Velcro", created in the 1940's by a Swiss engineer, George de Mestral, who when removing the burrs from his dog's fur and his own clothing, realised that its hooks and loops could be replicated to good effect. This he did, calling it 'Velcro' - velour and crochet (hook).

Western Isles Wildflowers - Flora & Flowers of The Outer Hebrides - Hebridean Wild Flowers
Purple - Wild Flowers of Scotland