Coltsfoot - A ray of sunshine
A small yellow Coltsfoot flower, for me a sign that spring is here. Smaller (and prettier) than a Dandelion, the dainty Coltsfoot brings an early splash of yellow to acidic disturbed soils.
This one is growing next to the footpath at Brickfield Pond. The flower appears on a stem with no leaves, and in a month or so the leaves will appear after the flowers have gone.
It was a plant that I quicky learnt to recognise as a Forestry student, as it was a popular source of "emergency tobacco". The leaves can be dried and used in place of tobacco - and are today still used in many herbal cigarettes. Smoking Coltsfoot used to be a recognised method of treating Athma and Bronchial disorders as far back as Greek times (The latin name means 'Cough dispeller').
More info about its herbal uses and properties can be found at www.purplesage.org.uk/profiles/coltsfoot.htm
