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Coltsfoot

 

 

For city people the coltsfoot is nearly the first flowering wild spring flower, growing at road verges and on fallow land. Otherwise we find them in habitats with clayey and poor soils, such as ditch banks or field verges.

 

In itself a little yellow miracle straight from the only recently frozen ground. But it prepared for flowering already last summer – even the flower buds were ready-grown.  A sufficient amount of nutrients was stored in the rhizome.

 

The little flowerheads of the coltsfoot remind a little of dandelions. The stem is covered with brownish scales which actually are the transformed leaves of the plant, and successfully protect the coltsfoot from frosts. The stem grows during the whole flowering period. After flowering the plant has plenty of time to grow its large proper leaves – the main work for preserving the species has been successfully completed. Among the brown and grey hues of April the coltsfoot’s little flowers shine like little suns.