Coltsfoot, or Tussilago farfara
Introduction
Coltsfoot is one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring. It uses the stored energy in its roots to blossom before it begins making sugars through photosynthesis using the light energy from the sun. It blooms even before it produces leaves. Coltsfoot belongs to the same family as dandelions and the bright yellow flowers are often mistaken for dandelions.
Coltsfoot is a flowering plant, which means it belongs to the group of plants that produces flowers and then develops fruits. It can grow in very poor soil, but it needs intense sunlight. Coltsfoot is not a native plant in Nova Scotia, but it was brought here because of its medicinal properties. The scientific name of coltsfoot “Tussilago” actually means “cough dispeller”.
Appearance and Habitat
Coltsfoot leaves are green, roundish and shaped somewhat like a horse’s hoof (hence the common name “coltsfoot”). The veins in the leaf all emerge from the same point. The underside of the leaves is somewhat fluffy. The flower stalks, which initially emerge in the spring, are somewhat scaly. The stalks are not green, but usually somewhat white and reddish and topped with a bright yellow flower. The “petals” of the flowers are very fine and each petal is actually an individual flower.
Coltsfoot is pollinated by bees and provides an abundant food source in the early spring. It can also self-pollinate, which means the pollen will find its way to the pistil on its own. Coltsfoot develops seeds that are much like dandelion seeds. These seeds have tufts on the ends and are spread by the wind.
Relationships
Coltsfoot provides nectar to bees in early spring when little else is available. Like most plants, coltsfoot roots also have a relationship with mycorrhizal fungi in the soil. The fungi provide hard-to-get nutrients to the plant in exchange for plant sugars.
Human Use
Coltsfoot was traditionally used as a cough remedy, either as a syrup or cough drops. Recently though, coltsfoot has been discovered to have some chemicals that are liver toxins and are used only when essential. The leaves of coltsfoot were often burned and the ashes were used as a salt substitute. In Nova Scotia, coltsfoot can actually be a weed that is very difficult to eradicate. Coltsfoot spreads by underground rhizomes. Rhizomes are stems that grow horizontally underground. Because coltsfoot can spread so easily it can very quickly take over garden beds or other soils. It is often one of the first plants to grow in a new area where the soil has been recently disturbed.
Scientific Name
Coltsfoot is known scientifically as Tussilago farfara.
~Monica Schuegraf
