English name:     Lappa

Synonyms:     Burdock Root, American Burdock.

Botanical origin:  Arctium minus.

Part used:       Root.

Impurites:    None given officially.

Assay:       Not more than 6%.

Habitat:    Europe and United States.

Description:     American lappa occurs as a mixture of entire, curved or twisted roots, as longitudinal slices, and as broken pieces.  The roots are simple or branched, and they measure up to 25 cm. in length and up to 15 mm. in diameter. The crown is scaly, slightly annulate, and hollow above.  The cavity is filled either with unicellular hairs of undeveloped leaves or with partially developed leaes.  The texture is fibrous. The color varies from light grayish yellow to dark brown and is rarely abraded.  The surface is finely furrowed and has few eleated root scars.  The fracture is brittle and uneven.  The outline of the cross-sections is nearly circular.  The cortex is yellowish brown and distinctly radiate.  The wood has distinct yellowish radial conductin tissue near the cambium zone and a holow or solid pith center.  The odor is not characteristic.  The taste is slightly sweet, mucilaginous and bitter.