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Enriched botanical record

Comfrey

Symphytum officinale L.

Also indexed ascomfreySymphytum peregrinumArznei-BeinwellBeinwellBonesetComfreyComfrey, BonesetCommon Comfrey
FamilyBoraginaceae
GenusSymphytum
Use categories7
Linked notes0
Poison use is recorded for this taxon.This is a classification flag, not a dosage guide. Do not infer safe use from any documented-use label.

Botanical identity

A mucilaginous herb primarily encountered in external preparations.

KingdomPlantae
Phylum / divisionTracheophyta
ClassMagnoliopsida
OrderBoraginales
FamilyBoraginaceae
GenusSymphytum
Scientific name with authorshipSymphytum officinale L.
Curated parts indexedLeaf and root

Indexed scientific synonyms

Consolida major GarsaultConsolida major Gilib.Symphytum album Steud.Symphytum almagroi PauSymphytum ambiguum PauSymphytum besseri Zaver.Symphytum coccineum BosseSymphytum commune FaegriSymphytum consolida Gueldenst.Symphytum elatum TauschSymphytum majus BubaniSymphytum microcalyx OpizSymphytum molle JankaSymphytum officinale f. coccineumSymphytum officinale subsp. patens (Sibth.) Schübl. & G.MartensSymphytum officinale var. albiflorum FuckelSymphytum officinale var. albiflorum Günther, Grab. & Wimm.Symphytum officinale var. album MerremSymphytum officinale var. album WibelSymphytum officinale var. calycinum Hartm.Symphytum officinale var. glabrescens NicklèsSymphytum officinale var. ochroleucum DC.Symphytum officinale var. patens (Sibth.) Lej.Symphytum officinale var. patens (Sibth.) MerremSymphytum officinale var. purpureum GraySymphytum officinale var. rectiflorum Touss. & HoschédéSymphytum officinale var. rubriflorum FuckelSymphytum officinale var. violaceum WibelSymphytum patens Sibth.Symphytum peregrinum Ledeb.Symphytum pictum Anon.Symphytum stenophyllum BeckSymphytum variegatum Anon.

Documented use categories

Medicine
Human food
Animal food
Environmental use
Gene source
Material
Poison reported

These categories describe the kinds of human-use reports attached to the taxon in the source checklist. Multiple categories can coexist; a plant may be recorded as both food and poison, depending on part, preparation and context.

How to interpret this record

Traditional and practical context

Traditional and practical context is preparation-specific. A documented use category is not proof of clinical effectiveness.

Evidence boundary

Evidence must be assessed by exact species, plant part, preparation, route, dose and health question.

Safety boundary

Confirm botanical identity, plant part, route, dose, medicines, allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding and age before use.

Dataset record and provenance

DatasetWCUPS 2020
LicenceCC BY 4.0
Name sourceIPNI
IPNI / external identifier120815-1
Use codesAF EU GS HF MA ME PO
Crop wild relativeNo

Contributing checklist sources

Kew Economic Botany CollectionEuropean Red List of Medicinal PlantsUSDA GRINMedicinal Plant Names Services v8.2Useful Plants of New GuineaPlant Resources of South-East AsiaPlant Resources for Tropical Africa

Read the full dataset citation, licence and import methodology →

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Educational index, not a treatment recommendation

The presence of a taxon in this database does not provide a diagnosis, dose, formulation or assurance of safety. Some indexed plants are toxic, regulated, endangered or unsafe in specific life stages.