Tussilago farfara (Coltsfoot)

Tussilago farfara L.

Coltsfoot, ass’s foot, bull’s foot, butterbur, coughwort, farfara, foal’s foot, foalswort, horse foot, winter heliotrope

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Asterales	Flowering plants with a central disk flower and surrounding petals, like daisies
Family	Asteraceae	The aster family, which also includes daisies and sunflowers; from the Greek ἀστήρ, “star,” for the star-shaped flowers
Genus	Tussilago	“For a cough,” since this was used to cure coughs
Species	farfara	Old Latin name for coltsfoot

About plant names...

Coltsfoot is native to some regions of Europe and Asia. It was introduced to North and South America for its medical properties, and has become naturalized there, an invasive plant in many areas. “Coltsfoot” and many other of the common names are for the shape of the leaves at the base of the plant.

Coltsfoot basal leaves.

Identification: Leaves at the base of the plant are heart-shaped, and up to 6" (15 cm) wide. Stems are stiff, lined with small reddish-brown scales, about 3-18" (7.6-45 cm) high. There is a single yellow flower on each stem, about ¾" (1.9 cm) across, composed of many tiny petals, similar to a dandelion. (In ultraviolet light, the outer petals appear white and the inner region red.) The flowers appear in early spring.

Edibility: Flower buds and young flowers are said to add an anise-like (licorice-like) flavor to salads. Young leaves are also edible, provided that they are washed after boiling to remove a bitter taste.^[1]. The dried leaves can be used to make a tea, or boiled with sugar to produce cough drops.^[2]

Medical: Coltsfoot has been pressed into service for a wide range of ailments. The most consistent use is the treatment of coughs and respiratory problems, often with a candy made from the leaves.

Online References:

Tussilago farfara on www.jeffpippen.com

Tussilago farfara on Ontario Wildflowers

Tussilago farfara on Invasive.org, Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health

Tussilago farfara on Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

Tussilago farfara on Wikipedia

Tussilago farfara on CalPhotos

Tussilago farfara on the Ecology of Commanster

Tussilago farfara on

Tussilago farfara on www.tussilago-farfara.com

Tussilago farfara on the USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

Tussilago farfara at 2bnTheWild.com

4/28/2014 · Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 13 cm)

The leaf underside is almost white. · 7/11/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 7 × 6" (17 × 15 cm)

4/22/2014 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation L, Brookline, New Hampshire

5/2/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 3 × 2½" (7.5 × 7.2 cm)

4/4/2010 · Owl’s Head Transportation Museum Nature Walk, Owl’s Head, Maine
≈ 6 × 5" (15 × 13 cm)

4/15/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 3½ × 3½" (9.1 × 9 cm)

5/13/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 3 × 4" (7.9 × 10 cm)

¹See Plants for a Future

²See Peterson, Lee Allen, Peterson Field Guides Edible Wild Plants of Eastern/Central North America, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1977, p. 84

Tussilago farfara description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 17 Aug 2021.

4/27/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 4 × 3" (11 × 8.4 cm)

5/13/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 2½ × 2½" (6.8 × 6.6 cm)

5/4/2012 · Willard Brook State Park, Blue Trail, Ashby, Massachusetts
≈ 8 × 6" (19 × 16 cm)

8/25/2017 · Pack Monadnock, near summit, Peterborough, New Hampshire
≈ 12 × 8" (31 × 20 cm)

4/10/2021 · Stream Loop Trail, Big Falls Preserve, New Gloucester, Maine
≈ 6 × 4½" (16 × 12 cm)

1/19/2021 · Owl’s Head Transportation Museum Nature Walk, Owl’s Head, Maine

4/24/2011 · Kevin and Becky’s, Rockland, Maine
≈ 5 × 6" (13 × 15 cm)

4/28/2014 · Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire
≈ 4½ × 7" (12 × 17 cm)

4/23/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 10 × 6" (24 × 16 cm)

5/13/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 4 × 4" (10 × 10 cm)

4/4/2010 · Owl’s Head Transportation Museum Nature Walk, Owl’s Head, Maine
≈ 7 × 6" (18 × 15 cm)

Range:

About this map...