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comfrey roots?

barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,817
in Plants

I have dug some roots from a plant which I believed to be comfrey but was surprised to find that the roots have red and cream rhizomes. I have scoured the net for images of comfrey plants and their roots and while the leaves look right the roots don't, does comfrey produce rhizomes?

Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,360

    no rhizomes

    can you post a photo?



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,817

    Sorry it took a while.                      image

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391

    Comfrey roots are thick, dark brown (white inside) quite brittle and go down a long way (several feet) so I think you have something else there.  As nut says, a photo would be really useful.

    Edit: You posted the photo while I was typing!
    Those look very much like Jerusalem artichoke tubers to me, or possibly something else in the sunflower family.

    Last edited: 10 September 2017 19:12:05

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,817

    I'll get a photo of the plant when I can get to the lottie but it looks just like comfrey to me and has me puzzled.

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391

    Now you've mentioned that they are growing on an allotment, I'm 100% certain they are Jerusalem artichokes (aka sunchokes.)  Probably the variety called 'Gerard' which have the red colouration as opposed to the more common 'Fuseau' which are cream coloured.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,817

    Thanks Bob I won't bother cultivating those then.

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