Invasive Weed

[quizbag]

My son's garden is being over-run with a weed that he is unable to identify. It has a thick, long taproot which is quite white in colour and a leaf shaped a little like a water lily. Any advice on how to get rid of it would be welcome preferably without using weed killers.

[woofgang]

could you post a picture?

[penelope2]

Check out japanese knotweed on Google. I do hope it's not that.

[quizbag]

I have asked him to send me one but nothing has arrived so far. Thanks for your interest.

[murraymints]

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=japanese+knotweed&qpvt=japanese+knotweed&;FORM=IGRE#view=detail&id=655838DD9A1E27DC5596DBCD285751FD1104BE70&selectedIndex=5


with advice on its' removal

[woofgang]

doubt it guys, that doesn't have a waterlily shaped leaf.

[murraymints]

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=common+domestic+weeds&go=&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=common+domestic+weeds&sc=0-14&;sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&id=24BB04C433D23878F1D9117243C61AE2A5D3A103&selectedIndex=22


common mallow ?

[woofgang]

I was thinking butterbur (petasites)
http://wildflowerfinder.org.uk/Flowers/B/Butterbur/Butterbur_2009_04_13_NewMills_canal_Bugsworth_WhaleyBr_518p2.jpg

[quizbag]

Thanks for all your suggestions. From memory it looks most like petasites. I will send the link to my son.
Many thanks everybody and have a happy New Year.

[Chipchopper]

A wild guess.......Possibly Wild ginger esp (Asarum caudatum).

Google some images, plenty there.