If you walk along the edge of the forest in spring and are looking for comfrey to use its leaves to make a salad or soup with, you should be careful. This rough leaf plant has a highly toxic doppelganger
What plants can comfrey be confused with?
Comfrey can easily be confused with theRed Foxglove, as it looks very similar to it due to its growth, hairy leaves and flowers of the same color. Confusion with borage and viper's head is less common and poses less of a he alth risk.
How is the growth of red foxglove similar to comfrey?
The red foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), like the comfrey, has aslender growthand reaches a similar height of around100 cm. Both plants are perennials.
What is the difference between the leaves of comfrey and foxglove?
The leaves of comfrey aresmooth-edged, while the leaves of foxglove havesmall serrations. You can also make a difference by focusing on the hairiness of the leaves. Comfrey is rough and hairy on the underside of the leaves. The foxglove is softly hairy. Further differences are that the stems of the comfrey are bristly hairy and hollow inside.
How do the flowers of comfrey and foxglove differ?
The flowers of the comfrey aresmallerand sit together inrolled inflorescences. Theyhang clearly visible downwards. The flowers of the foxglove are located on a raceme-shaped and upright inflorescence. They are bell-shaped and have spots on the inside.
How can comfrey be distinguished from foxglove?
The two doppelgangers can also be distinguished by thesmell. Grind the leaves of comfrey. If you are reminded of the smell of cucumber, it is actually comfrey, also known as comfrey and comfrey. Foxglove has no such smell. If you are sure it is comfrey, do the taste test. Comfrey tastes fresh and cucumber-like, whereas foxglove is very bitter.
Why is it dangerous to confuse it with comfrey?
Anyone who confuses foxglove with comfrey and eats it riskspoisoning, which can befatal. In contrast to red foxglove, which is extremely toxic due to the digitoxin it contains, comfrey is only slightly toxic and can even act as a medicinal plant when consumed in small quantities.
Which other plants are similar to comfrey?
In addition to red foxglove, comfrey is similar toborage and also removes viper's head, horseradish and burdock, but only before they start to bloom. However, confusing them with these plants is far less dangerous than confusing them with the foxglove.
Tip
Comfrey and foxglove even have similar preferences
The red foxglove and the comfrey are similar even in terms of their origin and location requirements. So you can not only rely on finding comfrey in a partially shaded, nutrient-rich and moist place, but also foxglove. Therefore, before harvesting the plant, be sure to check the external characteristics and smell.
