White Butterbur

 White butterbur (Petasites albus) growing amongst the snowdrops at Cambo.

Yesterday was one of the sunniest days of the year so far and a good day to visit Cambo to see the snowdrops. However, snowdrops were not the only white flower in bloom and the Cambo Estate had put up an interesting information board about white butterbur, which is a native of the mountains of Europe and South West Asia. It was first introduced in1683 but did not get recorded in the wild until 1843. It has now spread throughout but is more common in the North particularly in Eastern Scotland.

Information board. (To read click on photo to enlarge)

Meanwhile in the Serpentine Walk in Largo, the more common pink-flowered butterbur (Petasites hybridus) which is native to Britain is also in flower. In past times its large leaves were used for wrapping butter, hence its common English name. The genus name Petasites comes from the Greek petusos - a broad brimmed hat. The leaves can grow to almost 36 inches across.

In the above picture taken last July the butterbur leaves are flourishing on one side of the path in the Serpentine Walk. Later on in the summer they grew so large that they virtually blocked the path in places.