The Voynich Botanical Plants

Folio 8v, Comfrey (Symphytum officinale L.), grows in damp meadows in Europe. It has a black, turnip-like root and large, hairy, broad leaves that decrease in size the higher they grow up the stem. The stem ends in a cluster of small, bell-shaped, purple flowers. Due to the presence of steroidal saponins and mucilage in comfrey, the root and leaves were useful in treating a wide variety of ailments ranging from bronchial problems, broken bones, sprains, arthritis, gastric and varicose ulcers, severe burns, and acne and other skin conditions.