butterbur

9.9

A plant with very large leaves that grows in wet places like riverbanks

noun
/ˈbʌtərbər/

: butterbur

During spring, vibrant clusters of lilac-pink flowers bloom on the butterbur.

Examples

In the sunny gaps between the trees, butterburs, golden saxifrage, and sweet-flax were more to be seen than the violets, bellflowers, and enchanter's nightshade of the highlands.

Fiction book (1992)
Butterbur has large broad leaves that provide shelter for various insects.
The pickled mountain vegetables that Noriko had given her to take back to Tokyo and the candied butterbur stems from the lodging filled her suitcase to bursting.

Fiction book (1996)
The butterbur plant thrives in moist habitats, often seen along riverbanks.

Synonyms

Petasites hybridus

vsbutterbur

Specialized

9.9

A plant that lives for many years with large round leaves and pink flowers that grows in damp places

is the common English name for that identical plant

Petasites vulgaris

vsbutterbur

Specialized

9.9

A small plant from Europe and Asia with large leaves and pink flowers that grows in wet places

emphasizes perennial growth and clustered flowers rather than small size

bog rhubarb

vsbutterbur

9.9

A small plant with broad leaves and pale pink flowers that grows in wet places

is the specific herb term highlighting perennial habit and flower clusters

Surface Forms

butterbur singular

butterburs plural

Morphology

butterbur = butter + bur (semi-transparent) = butter + bur

The components 'butter' and 'bur' are identifiable, but the compound denotes a specific plant (and the exact reason for the name is historical), so learners cannot reliably predict the botanical meaning from the parts alone.

Etymology

The word butterbur comes from old words butter and bur, which mean 'butter' and 'burr'. A helpful way to remember it is that people once used the plant's very large leaves to wrap and keep butter, so the name fits a plant with big leaves.