Common name of comfrey reportedly comes from con firma (Latin meaning with strength) in reference to its reputation for healing wounds and broken bones (leaves and roots contain allantoin). Specific epithet means sold in shops and was often applied to plants with supposed medicinal properties. Genus name comes from the Greek words symphyo meaning to grow together and phyton for plant as the plant was believed to help heal wounds. Large, pointed, hairy, ovate-lanceolate, dark green basal leaves grow to 8 long. Although some controversy still exists regarding internal use, plants are now generally considered by most experts to be unsafe and dangerous for ingestion. Symphytum officinale, commonly called comfrey, is a large, coarse, tuberous-rooted, clumping perennial (to 3’ tall and 2.5’ wide) that is primarily grown today as an ornamental for its attractive foliage and spring flowers. Leaves were also once used for herbal teas. Young leaves and stems were once cooked as a vegetable (like spinach). Internally, comfrey has been used to treat a number of other medical problems including ulcers and colitis. Leaves and roots have been used for many years in poultices for treating a variety of external inflammations, rashes, swellings, cuts, bruises, sprains or broken bones. Over time, comfrey has naturalized along roadsides and in waste areas throughout much of the U.S. Immigrants first brought the plant to America in the 1600s for medicinal use. Comfrey (also commonly called knitbone or boneset) has been cultivated since 400 B. Tubular, bluebell-like, white to pink to purple flowers appear in drooping clusters (scorpiod cymes) in mid-spring to early summer. Upper leaves are decurrent and much smaller than the basal ones. Large, pointed, hairy, ovate-lanceolate, dark green basal leaves grow to 8” long. Symphytum officinale, commonly called comfrey, is a large, coarse, tuberous-rooted, clumping perennial (to 3’ tall and 2.5’ wide) that is primarily grown today as an ornamental for its attractive foliage and spring flowers.
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