Random ramblings from the cluttered brain of a Brit ex-pat North Devonian trying to keep cool in the steamy summers and warm in the frosty winters of The Great White North.
Sunday, 25 March 2012
First Sign of Spring
Tussilago farfara, commonly known as Coltsfoot
Coltsfoot has traditionally had herbal medicinal use as a cough suppressant and to treat lung diseases such as asthma, but it also contains some toxins that affect the liver, so if anyone offers you some Coltsfoot Tea, say NO!
Laurie: Coltsfoot appears very early in the spring, much earlier than dandelions, the flower comes first and the leaves much later. Not sure if they are related to dandelions.
Thanks for the warning...When I saw it was good for the lungs, I thought--"Gee, I should get some"...Then, I saw the next sentence...I will Pass on this and I appreciate your information, my dear. But, it sure is a pretty flower.
As Laurie pointed out, they greatly resemble dandelions. I've picked dandelion greens for salads before. I guess I might be lucky that I didn't mistakenly pick coltsfoot at some point, thinking it was just earlier dandelions!
Wow - there is a confectioners in the UK (Stockley's Sweets) who make coltsfoot rock from coltsfoot extract. Years since I have had any but our local health food store sold it! Won't be buying any more.
I just read the Hunger Games and it was critical for her to know which plants were edible and which were poisonous. I'd never survive in the wilderness.
Yikes. If it is bad for the liver, I hope that only applies to large doses. I have heard of people using this to assuage a cough and even asthma.
As for me, it looks too much like dandelions for me to think they're pretty. I know the leaves are different, but by the time I recognize them, I'd have already torn them from the earth.
nice to see your spring Fenella! Our winter will continue still as strong. I can honestly say that I could gladly say goodbye to snow and welcome next November again!
that looks a lot like dandelion. are they related?
ReplyDeleteLaurie: Coltsfoot appears very early in the spring, much earlier than dandelions, the flower comes first and the leaves much later. Not sure if they are related to dandelions.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the warning...When I saw it was good for the lungs, I thought--"Gee, I should get some"...Then, I saw the next sentence...I will Pass on this and I appreciate your information, my dear. But, it sure is a pretty flower.
ReplyDeleteMost interesting. How can something be so good and so bad at the same time! (sigh)
ReplyDeleteWow, I have serious asthma! I need medicine especially in spring and autumn.
ReplyDeleteDo I have to say"No thank you, Colts-foot Tea"??
Tomoko
As Laurie pointed out, they greatly resemble dandelions. I've picked dandelion greens for salads before. I guess I might be lucky that I didn't mistakenly pick coltsfoot at some point, thinking it was just earlier dandelions!
ReplyDeleteWow - there is a confectioners in the UK (Stockley's Sweets) who make coltsfoot rock from coltsfoot extract. Years since I have had any but our local health food store sold it! Won't be buying any more.
ReplyDeleteI just read the Hunger Games and it was critical for her to know which plants were edible and which were poisonous. I'd never survive in the wilderness.
ReplyDeleteYikes. If it is bad for the liver, I hope that only applies to large doses. I have heard of people using this to assuage a cough and even asthma.
ReplyDeleteAs for me, it looks too much like dandelions for me to think they're pretty. I know the leaves are different, but by the time I recognize them, I'd have already torn them from the earth.
nice to see your spring Fenella!
ReplyDeleteOur winter will continue still as strong.
I can honestly say that I could gladly say goodbye to snow and welcome next November again!
there's a leaf or two that look suspiciously like dandelion leaves! but the flower itself is quite different. interesting.
ReplyDeletethat is, the stem of the flower is quite different. it has a covering of some kind.
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