Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)

Taxonomy

Domain	Eukarya
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Magnoliophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Superorder	Asteranae
Order	Asterales
Family	Asteraceae
Subfamily	Asteroideae
Tribe	Senecioneae
Genus	Tussilago

Scientific Name

Tussilago farfara

Common Name

coltsfoot

Miller, J.H., E.B, Chambliss, N.J. Loewenstein. 2010. A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests. General Technical Report SRS-119. Asheville, NC. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 126 p.

Plant

An unusual low-growing perennial forb from thick branching underground white rhizomes to 10 feet (3 m) deep. Several dandelion-like flower heads per plant sprout in early spring on stout and bracted woolly-haired stalks, then rosettes of colt-hoof shaped leaves appear after dandelion-like plumed seeds have dispersed. The reverse growth sequence of most asters.

Stem

In early spring, several stout stems arise from rhizome tips to 2 to 6 inches (5 to 10 cm) high, covered with woolly-white oppressed hairs and scattered green-to-purple leafy bracts when flowering begins. Stems reach 12 to 20 inches (30 to 50 cm) high by seed dispersal time. Later, leaves on short stems emerge.

Leaves

Arising on short to nonapparent stems near recent seeding stalks, rosettes of small, kidney-shaped leaves give way to long-petioled, flattened, broad heart-shaped leaves, deeply cleft at the base. Both surfaces and petiole initially covered in white, woolly hairs, later to become smooth and glossy on the upper surface, 2 to 7 inches (5 to 18 cm) across and light to dark or bluish green. Many slightly sunken veins radiate from the petiole and extend to the toothed or wavy margin. Purplish-tipped green bracts cling along flower stalks.

Flowers

March to June. Yellow and golden composite heads, 1 to 1.3 inches (2.5 to 3.3 cm) wide, grow on top of bracted stems, each with hundreds of flowers similar to dandelions, enclosed and supported by green-to-purplish tinged sepals (involucre), initially tight and cylindrical, later becoming fully arched back. The outside ring of ray flowers (fertile flowers) extend upward and arch outward turning golden tipped, while inner-disc, center flowers (sterile flowers) are recessed.

Fruit and seeds

June to October. Heads become white fluffy balls, dandelion-like, containing hundreds of tiny thin golden nutlets (achenes) topped with plumes of long white bristles.

Ecology

A severe invasive spreading from the North to the South by wind-dispersed seeds that can travel for miles, although the range may be restricted by summer heat. Can rapidly colonize roadsides, streamsides, and disturbed lands, preferring wet sites but can grow on dry sites, to invade adjacent undisturbed prairies and rocky openings of special habitats to displace threatened species. Rhizomes and seeds can remain dormant in soil for long periods and are stimulated to germinate by disturbance. Seeds germinate throughout the growing season.

Resembles

Resembles common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale L.), which has a smooth flower/ seed stalk with white milky sap and long, toothed leaves. Foliage resembles ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea L.).

History and use

Introduced from Northern Europe and Asia by early settlers for multiple medicinal uses, although toxic in large doses.

Distribution

Found in scattered infestations throughout TN, KY, NC, and VA.

Management strategies

• Manually pull when first appears and when soil is moist to ensure removal of all rhizomes.
• Treat when new plants are young to prevent seed formation.

Recommended control procedures

• Thoroughly wet all leaves with a glyphosate herbicide or Garlon 3A as a 2-percent solution (8 ounces per 3-gallon mix) in water with a surfactant. Treatments should be made in the summer when the leaves of coltsfoot are fully developed. Earlier applications can be used to stop seeding.

Images

March	April	March	March
May	May	July

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