Tussilago farfara L. Coldsfoot

Tussilago farfara L. - Coldsfoot

Scientific Description:

Leaves petiolate, lamina 10−20(−30) cm diam., with rather acute lobes, margin irregularly toothed, at first white-floccose on both sides, becoming glabrous above. Scapes 4−15 cm (lengthening in fruit to c. 30 cm), with numerous purplish scale-leaves, floccose, erect in bud, nodding after anthesis. Capitula 1.5−2.5 cm broad. Phyllaries linear, obtuse, often purplish and white-hairy, sometimes with black glandular hairs. Achenes 3−4 mm. Pappus 10−15 mm.

Flowering time: March−April.

Habitat: Waste and sandy places, damp ground, s.l.−2400 m.

Reference:
Matthews VA (1975). Tussilago farfara L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 5: 168.

Public Description:

Tussilago farfara, known as “coldsfoot”, is native to Europe, western and central Asia. It is a perennial herb with yellow flowers, and grows up to 30 cm in length. It spreads easily with the aid of seeds and rhizomes and is usually found in the form of colony. It blooms between March and April and is found in waste and sandy places and damp ground. It is valuable plant which is used traditional medicine for the treatment of respiratory diseases, especially cough, since ancient times. It is used in contemporary medicine as a cough suppressant in upper respiratory tract disorders, asthma, bronchitis and as an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drug.

References:

Anonymous (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tussilago, Accessed date: 02.02.2016.

Dreger M, Krajewska-Patan A, Górska-Paukszta M, Pıeszak M,, Opala B,, Gryszczyńska A, Adamczak A, Mıkołajczak PL, Buchwald W (2012). Content of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (senecionine and senkirkine) in Tussilago farfara L. plants cultivated in vitro. Kerla Polonica. Vol. 58 No. 4.

Hamzaoğlu E (2012). Tussilago L. In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 215–216.