This Ain't No Dandelion

At first glance many would say that this flower is a dandelion. In fact, it's often confused with dandelion. But really, it's very different and easy to tell apart.

This is Coltsfoot. Although it's not native it is pervasive in much of it's range which is the North eastern states as far south as North Carolina and Washington. If fact it is often listed as a "noxious weed". Me? I think it's a wonderful plant to know and use.

If you don't know this plan, identification is easy. The flowers are the color and size of dandelion flowers. It's often found along side and disturbed ground in early spring in larger colonies so it's easy to spot as you're driving by. You can spot it some in upland and floodplain forests and woodlands.

Dandelion flowers are found on a stem that's smooth and hollow like a straw. Dandelion also exudes a milky sap. Coltsfoot stems  have a white fuzz and may look a little like asparagus.

Another difference between dandelion and coltsfoot is that the coltsfoot flowers before the leaves appear. The leaves may look a little like grape leaves, although this plant is not a vine. There is one leaf per stem as there is also one flower per stem. The leaf is about the size of a fist or smaller. The undersides of the leaves are fuzzy and grey.

NAME:  Coltsfoot

BOTANTIC NAME  ~ Tussalago farfara The Latin term tussilago denotes cough, the dried out leaves of this plant have been used to treat this condition since early days. The name Farfarus is an ancient name for the Poplar tree, which has similar leaves.

DESCRIPTION ~ It grows from 1 to 2 feet high. The root is perennial and somewhat creeping; the stems, hard and wiry, furrowed. The leaves are coarsely toothed.

USES ~ Traditional medicinal for coughs and sparingly in salads and as a steamed vegetable.

PARTS USED ~ Young leaves, for tea or syrup to treat coughs.
                        ~ Flower buds, young flowers and leaves can be added to salads or steamed as a vegetable. The flavor is similar to anise.

Coltsfoot is used as a respiratory disinfectant, expectorant and t and makes an effective tea to  Consider a keeping some dried coltsfoot on hand for those winter coughs.
Coltsfoot tea with local honey is very effective in clearing congestion and as a cough supressant. It can be combined with other herbs such as peppermint, mallow, or horehound.

PRECAUTIONS ~ Coltsfoot should not be used by pregnant women.
                            ~ The pyrrolizidine alkaloids present in the plant are potentially toxic in large doses and can damage the liver, but have not proven toxic in the doses usually used to treat coughs. Still, it is recommended that coltsfoot tea or syrup not be used for more than 3-4 weeks at a time
Don't combine coltsfoot with blood pressure medication.

Please Eat The Daisies

Daisy ~ Leucanthemum vulgare

NAME:  Daisy, Ox-eye Daisy

BOTANTIC NAME  ~ Leucanthemum vulgare  (was  Chrysanthemum leucanthemum)

DESCRIPTION ~ It grows from 1 to 2 feet high. The root is perennial and somewhat creeping; the stems, hard and wiry, furrowed and only very slightly branched. The leaves are small and coarsely toothed; those near the root are somewhat rounder in form than those on the stem, and are on long stalks, those on the stem are oblong and stalkless.

USES ~ Traditional medicinal, minor potherb and minor salad.

PARTS USED ~ Young leaves and flower buds.

This is the common daisy found on roadsides and fields, clearings, and disturbed areas.  Daisy comes from "Days Eye". The flower heads are only open during the day. The center of the flower head is a yellow disk that looks to some like a miniature sun. Although native to Europe, the ox-eye daisy is now naturalized in much of the world. Daisies are found in all 50 states.

The ox-eye daisy has a calming effect similar to chamomile, but much weaker. Because it's a member of the Asteraceae family it may cause allergic reactions in those who are allergic to ragweed, fleabane and asters.ref

This daisy was once cultivated for home remedies to cure whooping cough, asthma and other kinds of coughs. Young shoots and leaves are edible, but bitter.  They may be used sparingly in salads as a bitter herb and digestive tonic.

When I was young there was a popular book about the  trials and joys of being a homemaker called "Please Don't Eat The Daisies" The tile came from a situation where the housewife was preparing for a dinner party and gave the children instructions such as: not to eat the canapes, don't use the guest towels, don't track in mud etc. apparently she forgot to say " don't eat the daisies," because they started munching on the centerpiece. If she had known how nutritious those daisies were perhaps she would have served them to her guests instead of pigs in a blanket.

Wildcrafting and Foraging

 This blog is about FORAGING and WILDCRAFTING in Central New York and the Adirondack mountains. 

Long ago, I came across "Stalking The Wild Asparagus" by Euell Gibbons. I studied it and learned how to identify many plants. In the decades that followed, I built on that foundation learning more about wild plants and how they could be used for food and medicine. In the last few years, thanks to a local mycology club I have added mushrooms ~ fungi to what I forage.

Wildcrafting is the art of harvesting plants from their natural, or "wild" habitat, for food or medicine.

Foraging is the art searching for wild food resources.

Do you want to know more about edible, medicinal, and useful wild plants? Would you like to identify wild flowers? This is the bog for you. Follow me and let the adventure begin.

Barberry

Milkweed blossoms

Wild Strawberry

A basket of Wild Leeks (also called Ramps) and Morel mushrooms ~ a spring treat