Butterbur  (Petasites hybridus)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Biology

Butterbur is a perennial herb, that spreads mainly by vegetative reproduction from fragments of an underground creeping structure called a rhizome(3). Individual plants function either as males or females, a condition known as ‘dioecy’. Bees visit the flower heads, although only sterile flowers produce nectar (2).

Butterbur has been highly valued as a medicinal plant since ancient times. Amongst other uses, the roots were dried and used to treat fevers, particularly the plague (5). More recently, research has shown that extracts of butterbur contain active ingredients that are extremely effective in preventing and reducing the pain associated with migraines and relieving the symptoms of asthma (6).

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