“A weed is a plant whose virtue is not yet known”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
While hiking a couple of weekends ago I noticed some small yellow flowers. They looked like a cross between a dandelion and a daisy. What caught my eye the most about these flowers was that they were the only real color in the woods.The forest is mostly brown this time of year. The bright yellow color of these flowers really stood out. Of course I had to come home and do a little research because I had to know what these flowers were that brightened up the forest so soon after the snow had melted.
Tussilago Farfara is the botanical name for this bright little flower. It is most commonly referred to as “Coltsfoot”. Coltsfoot is a wild edible plant. The flowers of this plant usually bloom in April in the Northeastern part of the United States. What makes this plant unusual is that the flowers bloom before the appearance of leaves. You will most often find this plant in ditches, along roadsides and at forest edges.
The flowers and baby leaves of this plant are edible, however the roots contain Pyrrolizidine alkaloids and are potentially toxic. This plant has anti inflammatory and antitussive properties. The flowers can be added to salads. To calm a cough, you can fill a jar with flowers and add honey. The baby leaves can be added to stews in small quantities after being boiled and washed.
There are so many things that we walk by in nature everyday. It is only when we become mindful of what is around us that we discover new things.
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