Tuberous Comfrey / Gavez

Description:

Tuberous Comfrey flowers from April to June, however it also reproduces asexually, that is vegetatively, having rhizomes that allow it to spread out from the original site, colonising and competing as it grows. This process continues into the autumn and the young clonal plants can be seen at this time of year, whilst the parent plants leaves are rotting down. Being very hardy, this plant is well able to survive northern winters. Both the stems and leaves are softly hairy, the leaves have deep veining.

Habitat:

Can be found throughout Europe.

Notes:

Vernacular common names such as 'Knitbone' reveal the homeopathic healing role that Tuberous Comfrey and the various hybrid comfreys have played in herbal medicine throughout the ages. In these traditional cures, the recipes make use of the leaves & roots, the former being used to speed up the healing of minor abrasions through their being applied directly to the damaged skin under a compress.