Help identify this plant

Can anyone tell what these plants are? See attachments

I found them while i was walking along the leeds and liverpool canal the other day, I have been walking that stretch of the canal for about 2 years now and I have never seen this plant growing and now it is all over the place.

So if someone could identify them it would be a good help.

Thanks

 

I think I've seen these growing wild also.
A species of petacites is a possible.

But I cant help thinking parasite, sort of broomrape. (Orobanche)

 

It looks like Butterbur ( Petacites hybridus) to me. If that's what it is, the flowers will shortly be followed by big ( up to a metre wide ) leaves that always remind me of rhubarb. They were apparently once used for wrapping butter.

 

Hi Bodycout. I found thisd on the wonderful interweb. Hope it's of help.

Chris

Butterbur is a pink-liver coloured plant that spreads by creeping stems. Male plants are common across England, however female plants are generally only found in the Midlands, Yorkshire and Lancashire. Male plants occasioanlly have a single female flower on them and this may help with pollination. The plants large leaves (up to 90cm) have a dense felting of hairs underneath and were used to wrap butter. The plant was also used to cure blemishes. The male flower-head is short stalked and consist of functional male flowers and several sterile ones. The female flower (not shown) are longer stalked and develop into plummed seeds. The plant likes damp places near rivers and streams. Butterbur has upright stems and as the plant grows the stem bear lance-shaped scales. The plant flowers March to May.

 

Thanks for identifiying that plant for me.