Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara): Difference between revisions

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[[File:9592c09ea3c0d8df04c879ac11b014f8.jpg| 500 px | thumb| Tussilago farfara leaves [8]]]
==Description==
==Description==


Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) is a herbaceous perennial plant [2] that spreads low to the ground creating a canopy across the [[soil]] [5]. Its large basal leaves are heart shaped [2] and covered by a toothed margin [4] that can grow up to 6 inches wide [2]. The underside of the leaves are covered in white fuzzy hairs, while the tops are smooth and have a wax-like appearance. There is no main stem but the leaves are connected to the plant with long stems and petioles that range between 10-20cm. Although the leaves are dark green, the stems and veins are purple. Before the leaves emerge in late june to mid-july [5], there are bright yellow flowers that bloom and resemble dandelions [2].They bloom in early spring and are able to push through snow in northern areas  Each single flower is between 1-1.5 cm in diameter and is surrounded by involucral bracts  with  rows of pistillate flowers in ray florets and five stamens [1].
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) is a herbaceous perennial plant [3] that spreads low to the ground creating a canopy across the [[soil]] [5]. Its large basal leaves are heart shaped [3] and covered by a toothed margin [4] that can grow up to 6 inches wide [3]. The underside of the leaves are covered in white fuzzy hairs, while the tops are smooth and have a wax-like appearance. There is no main stem but the leaves are connected to the plant with long stems and petioles that range between 10-20cm. Although the leaves are dark green, the stems and veins are purple. Before the leaves emerge in late june to mid-july [5], there are bright yellow flowers that bloom and resemble dandelions [3].They bloom in early spring and are able to push through snow in northern areas  Each single flower is between 1-1.5 cm in diameter and is surrounded by involucral bracts  with  rows of pistillate flowers in ray florets and five stamens [2].
 
 


==Name & Taxonomy==
==Name & Taxonomy==
Apart from its common name, Coltsfoot is also referred to as coughwort, horsefoot, foalfoot and clayweed [8].
Apart from its common name, Coltsfoot is also referred to as coughwort, horsefoot, foalfoot and clayweed [9].
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; width:85%;"|
|-
|
! scope="col" | Kingdom
! scope="col" | Phylum
! scope="col" | Class
! scope="col" | Order
! scope="col" | Family
! scope="col" | Genus
! scope="col" | Species
|-
! scope="row" | Classification
| Plantae
| Tracheophyta
| Magnoliopsida
| Asterales
| Asteraceae
| Tussilago L.
| Tussilago farfara L.
|}
[7]
 
==Range and Habitat==
Coltsfoot is native to Europe, as well as western Asia and northwestern Africa. It can spread to Siberia, the Arctic circle and the Himalayas [6]. They naturally prefer disturbed, wet [[clay]] areas like along roadsides and floodplain forests [2]. They can also be found along riverbanks and shorelines. Although non-native to North America, Coltsfoot can be found throughout eastern United States and Southern Canada [6] due to its ability to aggressively spread [4]. It can be traced in America back to 1840 and was most likely introduced for medicinal purposes by Europeans [6].
 
[[File:Map.jpg| 500 px | thumb | Native range (green) and invasive range (purple) of Tussilago farfara. [1]]]
 
==Herbal & Medicinal uses==
The most common use for Coltsfoot is to relieve respiratory problems such as coughing, asthma and bronchitis [4]. This is due to the mucilage, bitter glycosides and tannins in the plant that contribute to the anti-inflammatory and antitussive benefits [2]. There are multiple ways to use Coltsfoot including smoking the leaves, making the unopened flowers and leaves into herbal teas [5], and syrups [4]. Coltsfoot can also be made into decoctions for external application on sores and rashes [5],
 
 


Kingdom: Plantae


Class: Magnoliopsida


Order: Asterales


Family: Asteraceae


Genus: Tussilago L.


Species: Tussilago farfara L.
[7]


==Range and Habitat==
Coltsfoot is native to Europe, as well as western Asia and northwestern Africa. It can spread to Siberia, the Arctic circle and the Himalayas [6]. They naturally prefer disturbed, wet [[clay]] areas like along roadsides and floodplain forests [1]. They can also be found along riverbanks and shorelines. Although non-native to North America, Coltsfoot can be found throughout eastern United States and Southern Canada [6] due to its ability to aggressively spread [4]. It can be traced in America back to 1840 and was most likely introduced for medicinal purposes by Europeans [6].


==Herbal & Medicinal uses==
The most common use for Coltsfoot is to relieve respiratory problems such as coughing, asthma and bronchitis [4]. This is due to the mucilage, bitter glycosides and tannins in the plant that contribute to the anti-inflammatory and antitussive benefits [1]. There are multiple ways to use Coltsfoot including smoking the leaves, making the unopened flowers and leaves into herbal teas [5], and syrups [4]. Coltsfoot can also be made into decoctions for external application on sores and rashes [5],




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==References==
==References==
[1] Coltsfoot: Pictures, Flowers, Leaves & Identification | Tussilago farfara. (n.d.). . https://www.ediblewildfood.com/coltsfoot.aspx.
[1] Chen, S., L. Dong, H. Quan, X. Zhou, J. Ma, W. Xia, H. Zhou, and X. Fu. 2020, December 30. A review of the ethnobotanical value, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity and quality control of Tussilago farfara L. (coltsfoot) - ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037887412033364X.


[2] coltsfoot: Tussilago farfara (Asterales: Asteraceae): Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. (n.d.). . https://www.invasiveplantatlas.org/subject.html?sub=6564.
[2] Coltsfoot: Pictures, Flowers, Leaves & Identification | Tussilago farfara. (n.d.). . https://www.ediblewildfood.com/coltsfoot.aspx.


[3] Culturally and Economically Important Nontimber Forest Products of Northern Maine - Sustaining Forests - Northern Research Station - USDA Forest Service. (n.d.). .
[3] coltsfoot: Tussilago farfara (Asterales: Asteraceae): Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. (n.d.). . https://www.invasiveplantatlas.org/subject.html?sub=6564.


[4] https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/sustaining_forests/conserve_enhance/special_products/maine_ntfp/plants/coltsfoot/.
[4] Culturally and Economically Important Nontimber Forest Products of Northern Maine - Sustaining Forests - Northern Research Station - USDA Forest Service. (n.d.). . https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/sustaining_forests/conserve_enhance/special_products/maine_ntfp/plants/coltsfoot/.


[5] GISD. (n.d.). . http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=426.
[5] GISD. (n.d.). . http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=426.
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[7] ITIS - Report: Tussilago farfara. (n.d.). .
[7] ITIS - Report: Tussilago farfara. (n.d.). .


[8] Sievers, A. F. 1998, March 18. Coltsfoot.
[8] Sheremetyev, I. 2006. Tussilago farfara L. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science.
 
[9] Sievers, A. F. 1998, March 18. Coltsfoot.

Revision as of 17:36, 29 April 2022

Tussilago farfara leaves [8]

Description

Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) is a herbaceous perennial plant [3] that spreads low to the ground creating a canopy across the soil [5]. Its large basal leaves are heart shaped [3] and covered by a toothed margin [4] that can grow up to 6 inches wide [3]. The underside of the leaves are covered in white fuzzy hairs, while the tops are smooth and have a wax-like appearance. There is no main stem but the leaves are connected to the plant with long stems and petioles that range between 10-20cm. Although the leaves are dark green, the stems and veins are purple. Before the leaves emerge in late june to mid-july [5], there are bright yellow flowers that bloom and resemble dandelions [3].They bloom in early spring and are able to push through snow in northern areas Each single flower is between 1-1.5 cm in diameter and is surrounded by involucral bracts with rows of pistillate flowers in ray florets and five stamens [2].


Name & Taxonomy

Apart from its common name, Coltsfoot is also referred to as coughwort, horsefoot, foalfoot and clayweed [9].

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species
Classification Plantae Tracheophyta Magnoliopsida Asterales Asteraceae Tussilago L. Tussilago farfara L.

[7]

Range and Habitat

Coltsfoot is native to Europe, as well as western Asia and northwestern Africa. It can spread to Siberia, the Arctic circle and the Himalayas [6]. They naturally prefer disturbed, wet clay areas like along roadsides and floodplain forests [2]. They can also be found along riverbanks and shorelines. Although non-native to North America, Coltsfoot can be found throughout eastern United States and Southern Canada [6] due to its ability to aggressively spread [4]. It can be traced in America back to 1840 and was most likely introduced for medicinal purposes by Europeans [6].

Native range (green) and invasive range (purple) of Tussilago farfara. [1]

Herbal & Medicinal uses

The most common use for Coltsfoot is to relieve respiratory problems such as coughing, asthma and bronchitis [4]. This is due to the mucilage, bitter glycosides and tannins in the plant that contribute to the anti-inflammatory and antitussive benefits [2]. There are multiple ways to use Coltsfoot including smoking the leaves, making the unopened flowers and leaves into herbal teas [5], and syrups [4]. Coltsfoot can also be made into decoctions for external application on sores and rashes [5],








References

[1] Chen, S., L. Dong, H. Quan, X. Zhou, J. Ma, W. Xia, H. Zhou, and X. Fu. 2020, December 30. A review of the ethnobotanical value, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity and quality control of Tussilago farfara L. (coltsfoot) - ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037887412033364X.

[2] Coltsfoot: Pictures, Flowers, Leaves & Identification | Tussilago farfara. (n.d.). . https://www.ediblewildfood.com/coltsfoot.aspx.

[3] coltsfoot: Tussilago farfara (Asterales: Asteraceae): Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. (n.d.). . https://www.invasiveplantatlas.org/subject.html?sub=6564.

[4] Culturally and Economically Important Nontimber Forest Products of Northern Maine - Sustaining Forests - Northern Research Station - USDA Forest Service. (n.d.). . https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/sustaining_forests/conserve_enhance/special_products/maine_ntfp/plants/coltsfoot/.

[5] GISD. (n.d.). . http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=426.

[6] Innes, R. J. 2011. Tussilago farfara. In: Fire Effects Information System. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.

[7] ITIS - Report: Tussilago farfara. (n.d.). .

[8] Sheremetyev, I. 2006. Tussilago farfara L. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science.

[9] Sievers, A. F. 1998, March 18. Coltsfoot.