Butterbur
Petasites Hybridus
Petasites comes from the Greek petusos, a broad-brimmed hat; the leaves of the plant being equally effective as a shelter from the sun or rain. These leaves, which grow to enormous sizes, were used in country districts as a cool wrapping for butters and cheeses.
In the middle ages, the roots were powdered and used to heal spots and blemishes.
I found butterbur by the burn near the 6th hole in March 1998. The huge leaves appeared gradually over the next few months . By 2015 it had invaded large areas of the burn banks and adjacent golf course.
By 1990, after 20 years as a member of the course, I was at my golfing peak of hooking & slicing the ball! My familiarity with burns, roughs and woodlands was legendary.
It was time to photograph, identify and draw the wild flowers that I had come across. After enrolling in a botanical illustration class at the Botanic Gardens, I was soon addicted to this new hobby. The artist teaching us told us to choose any plants for homework and bring in the results. I chose a potato, warts and all and was the only student able to eat my homework later! The other students had drawn rhodedendrons, thistles and cacti.
Between 1995-2000, I had completed about sixty+ sketches of plants. Any problems of identification were solved by Dr McKean at the Botanic Gardens.
Aline Schofield
PS My interest is also in the Hebridean black sheep on the sloping fields opposite the 6th hole, but they wouldn't stand still for drawing and I can't take them home!
