What Is It?

Find out during Ask a Curator chat

We did a late March Ask a Curator hour. For those of you who missed it, there will be aTwitter Thursday April 16. This a live chat opportunity for you who use Twitter. My handle is@NovaScotiaFlora. Feel free to join us with comments and questions, images of spring flowers and general botanical silliness.

Last month we asked you if anyone had seen Coltsfoot flowering yet. As not even roadsides were visible, we had few answers. So a small request: please check in April 16 10-12 if you see these yellow flowers of spring along the roads and sidewalks where you live.

We asked you to tell us the name of our provincial wildflower. Some of you named the Mayflower, Epigaea repens. Absolutely! This delicately fragrant vining plant has not yet been reported in Nova Scotia. Or has it? Tweet us and let us know if you have seen it.

Another participant posted two beautiful images of mushrooms. One was the honey mushroom, a wonderful edible that takes care and practice to identify. I have to say, mushroom identification is not my strength, but I can probably find someone who can help us with those.

I love to keep a couple of “did you know” type questions at the ready. Last month’s of course related to the elusive coltsfoot. So, did you know what branded product contained coltsfoot?

Please mark April 16, 10-12ADT and sign in to twitter.com Post using @NovaScotiaFlora or#NSBotany and join the conversation.

Mayflowers photographed by Ross Hall
Coltsfoot in flower, also photographed by Ross Hall

Who can spot them first?

Coltsfoot,  is one of our earliest flowers

If your lawn or garden is stony, chances are you’re already acquainted with Coltsfoot. Bright yellow flower-heads appear on warm roadsides and sidewalks as early as March. This year that might be a major botanical feat, but one can hope. Soft scalloped leaves follow later in April.

It is named for the leaves which resemble the footprints of young horses. The plant is also familiar to those old enough to remember Adams cough drops sold in the small foil rolls. They were available in Red Cherry or Black Licorice flavours. Primary ingredient aside from sugar, was an extract of these leaves.

Coltsfoot is still dried for herbal teas to soothe coughs, colds and congestion. Its Latin name,Tussilago farfara comes from tussis, cough. For those who would prefer not to have a lawn of these green felted leaves, increasing the loam and fertility levels will render soil less hospitable to colonies of coltsfoot. 

Coltsfoot, Tussilago farfara, by Ross Hall

Coltsfoot leaves, photo by Sean Blaney