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I found this plant growing on an overgrown hill slope full of wild plants and weeds in Pennsylvania. It looks like a Dock plant or a super large plantain leaf. I just collected a good amount of them, and want to know if they are edible. I'm hoping its medicinal qualities aid in helping the kidneys and liver, as do dandelions and plantains.

click on picture for full size

plant growing on hill slope well overgrown in Pa.

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  • Looks a little like comfrey
    – J. Musser
    Commented Sep 24, 2015 at 15:21
  • I just looked up comfrey, the veins are wrong from the photos I saw and these leaves are very smooth and has a light sheen.
    – Debra Brooks
    Commented Sep 24, 2015 at 15:30
  • Have these plants flowered over the seasons at all?
    – J. Musser
    Commented Sep 24, 2015 at 15:31
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    This late in the year, and seeing the fact that it has no flower stalk and few tillers, makes me think it's a biennial.
    – J. Musser
    Commented Sep 24, 2015 at 15:51
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    also reminds me of rudbeckia/echinacea. Wonder if it's in the sunflower family
    – J. Musser
    Commented Sep 24, 2015 at 16:24

2 Answers 2

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How about Comfrey...? Doesn't look like Italian Arum to me anyhoo. Do you remember ANYTHING about the flowers? Check this out...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comfrey

This is plantain and I went out to check. Here is a link for different views of plantain, different species. Great to know what plants to eat or not eat in the wild. Plantain is great, dandelion is super, nettles are yummy...but please take care to KNOW what it is you are eating, sometime a little is fine, a bit more is toxic.plantain

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  • Thanks I was hoping it was just I have never seen one with leaves over a foot long. :)
    – Debra Brooks
    Commented Sep 24, 2015 at 22:45
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    This plant is sorta shaded, yes? Their leaves will get huge to be able to catch as much sun as possible. Grins! But just because I think it is plantain don't eat it, make very sure. Be careful with other plants you might pull up inadvertantly that might be toxic. I am just going by your picture. Knowing what to eat and what not to eat in the wild is important. I've taken lots of wilderness survival classes and 'when in ANY doubt don't eat it!'
    – stormy
    Commented Sep 24, 2015 at 23:00
  • Nope wasn't going to unless 100 % know what it is. I was hoping though because am also looking for various plantain for a poultice, ahh well least I am learning a lot about the plants around me. :)
    – Debra Brooks
    Commented Sep 26, 2015 at 17:37
  • The plant is on hill slope I'd say perhaps half shade due to taller weeds near it but not over it that I can tell.
    – Debra Brooks
    Commented Sep 26, 2015 at 17:57
  • OH wow could this be a erythronium pagoda leaves?
    – Debra Brooks
    Commented Sep 26, 2015 at 18:06
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This I believe is Italian Arum. If it has corn cob like seed cluster stalks/flowers, turns from green to orange, and you can't get rid of it, then that's it. Toxic, do not crush or ingest. I did as a kid and paid for it with burning/itching hands for hours. Washing them seemed to do nothing. I am guessing, this pic reminds me of a younger plant though. It was also very hard to I.D. this, seemed as if no one knew,Grandmas,Professionals, etc. Finally years later at a seminar about weed I.D.,I asked an extension employee and described it, this was his answer....terrible stuff....

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  • well I went back to check the plant out again 2 days ago, still no stalk growing, as if to grow a flower or anything, just leaves. It has me stumped for sure, but I will keep checking on it to see if it developes anything.
    – Debra Brooks
    Commented Nov 22, 2015 at 3:27
  • How do I post other photos to show the update on this plant?
    – Debra Brooks
    Commented Nov 22, 2015 at 3:32

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