Symphytum
| Symphytum | |
|---|---|
| Symphytum caucasicum | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Boraginales |
| Family: | Boraginaceae |
| Subfamily: | Boraginoideae |
| Genus: | Tourn. ex L. (1753) |
| Type species | |
| Symphytum officinale L.
| |
| Species[1] | |
|
27; see text | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Symphytum is a genus of flowering plants in the borage family, Boraginaceae, known by the common name comfrey (pronounced /ˈkʌmfri/, from the Latin confervere to 'heal' or literally to 'boil together', referring to uses in ancient traditional medicine).
Symphytum is native to northern temperate regions of Asia and North America, with a wide introduced distribution on both continents.[2] There are 59 recognized species.[2] More than 150 species have been cataloged by botanists.[3] Some species and hybrids, particularly S. officinale, Symphytum grandiflorum, and S. × uplandicum, are used in gardening and herbal medicine. Species in the genus Symphytum are different from Andersonglossum virginianum, known as wild comfrey, which is another member of the borage family.[4]
- ^ a b Symphytum Tourn. ex L. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Symphytum L." The World Flora Online. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ "International Plant Names Index". www.ipni.org. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ NRCS. "Cynoglossum virginianum". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 2018-11-20.