A tall plant with large leaves and pink or white flowers that grows in wet places, traditionally used in medicine.
From Middle English 'butter' combined with 'bur,' referring to the plant's burr-like seed heads. The 'butter' part may derive from the plant's use in treating cattle diseases or its association with dairy areas.
Medieval monks cultivated butterbur extensively because they believed it cured the plague and other diseases—it was basically the medieval version of a miracle cure supplement! The plant can grow so aggressively that in some places it's now considered an invasive species.
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