dcr
Deceased Member
Registered: February 2004 Posts: 1,317
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Coltsfoot is an early-blooming wild flower of Asia and Europe that can be found in our area as it was brought with them by the earliest settlers of the area since it was one of the most-used herbal remedies of the old country. Its scientific name, tussilago, is Latin for cough, and the plant was used to treat lung and throat diseases, especially coughs and bronchitis. These days it is considered too dangerous to be used by many authorities. The common name Coltsfoot refers to the shape of its leaves (they look like a horse's hoof), which, contrary to what we normally expect, come out only after the flowers have blossomed. Here is an early spring Coltsfoot flower seen along the banks of Moulton Brook in the Belknaps - it does prefer wet places, but can grow in drier conditions as well.
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