Lissarda, Co. Cork and Glasnevin, Dublin

Butterbur Petasites hybridus Gallán mór Family: Asteraceae Flowering time: March-May. Perennial. Native. The first of the unscented, pale pinkish-lilac flowers appear on stout stalks before the leaves. Dioecious, the male flowers (illustrated) are larger than the female. The very large, toothed and more/less rounded leaves grow to 1m. diameter and can cover large areas. Mainly spreads vegetatively from fragments of the rhizomes. Height 20-75cm Widespread throughout Ireland on damp, fertile soils on roadsides, riversides, wet meadows and in open woodland.

Butterbur, Petasites hybridus, Gallán mór