comfrey

/kum"free/, n., pl. comfreys.

any coarse Eurasian plant belonging to the genus Symphytum, of the borage family, as the widely cultivated S. officinale, having hairy, lance-shaped leaves and drooping clusters of small, white, rose-colored, or purplish flowers.

[1275-1325; ME cumfirie, conferye < AF cumfirie, OF confire < ML *confervia for L conferva CONFERVA]

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Any herb of the Eurasian genus Symphytum (borage family).

Best known is the medicinal common comfrey (S. officinale), used to treat wounds and as a source of a gum used to treat wool. Traditionally it was also taken internally for various complaints. Organic farmers use it to deter slugs and as a green manure. The coiled sprays of bell-like, hanging comfrey blooms are usually pollinated by bees. Common comfrey is about 3 ft (90 cm) tall, with winged, hairy stems and blue, purplish, or yellow flowers.

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▪ plant

      any herb plant of the Eurasian genus Symphytum, of the family Boraginaceae, especially the medicinal common comfrey (S. officinale), used to treat wounds and a source of a gum for treatment of wool. The coiled sprays of comfrey blooms, which are bell-like, deeply parted, five-lobed, and hanging, are usually pollinated by bees.

      Comfrey fruits are four oval nutlets. Common comfrey is about 90 centimetres (3 feet) tall, with winged, hairy stems and blue, purplish, or yellow flowers.

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