Additional notes (click to expand)

Medicinal

The following notes refer to the use in traditional medicine of the related species P. hybridus. Used as an anticonvulsive since the Middle Ages. Active principle Petasin, a terpene discovered in the 1950's. Also used as a febrifuge.
Mabberley, D.J. (1997) The Plant Book, ed.2, Cambridge University Press p.554

Nomenclature

Syn: = Tussilago paradoxus; Tussilago nivea; Petasites nivea; Petasites niveus

Toxicity

Petasites paradoxus Baumg. Asteraceae Alpine Butterbur. Herbaceous Perennial. Distribution: Temperate Northern hemisphere. It contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are hepatotoxic and cause liver cancers.
Oakeley, Dr. Henry F. (2013). Wellcome Library notes. link

Geographical distribution

  • Europe, Middle Europe, Germany
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Switzerland
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Italy
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Romania
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Yugoslavia
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, France
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Spain

Petasites paradoxus (Retz.) Baumg.

Family: ASTERACEAE
Genus: Petasites
Species: paradoxus (Retz.) Baumg.
Common names: Alpine Butterbur
Distribution summary: European Mountains
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: H5 - Hardy; cold winter
Habitat: Rocky slopes
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Plants of the World (C)
Flowering months: March


Back to List