coltsfoot

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• coltsfoot
• coughwort
• Colt's-Foot
• Colts-foot
• colt’s-foot

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tussilago generalis
• Tussilago alpestris
• Tussilago ruderalis
• Cineraria farfara
• Tussilago umbertina
• Tussilago vulgaris
• Tussilago farfara var. spinulifolia
• Petasites farfara

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Tussilago farfara, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling under the order Asterales. Furthermore, it is a member of the family Asteraceae within the genus Tussilago.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution primarily concentrated within the regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing across various territories, including Denmark and Finland. Additionally, its presence extends to the island nations of Iceland and the Faroe Islands (Føroyar). The species is also documented to inhabit the landscape of Great Britain. Together, these locations define the northern reaches of its known habitat.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Tussilago farfara is characterized by its presence in montane habitats, where it occupies specific altitudinal niches. This species is typically found within an elevational range starting from 1400 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum of 2600 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1400 m AMSL

Habitat :

Montane

Life history

The life history of Tussilago farfara is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist across multiple growing seasons. As a cryptophyte, it relies on underground storage organs to survive unfavorable conditions, specifically functioning as a geophyte where its vital parts are protected beneath the soil surface. This plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage annually as part of its seasonal growth cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Tussilago farfara is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically categorized as a forb. This self-supporting plant does not function as a climber or a vine, nor does it exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behavior, as it is strictly terrestrial and grows independently. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing species with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.35 m, maintaining a mean height of approximately 0.185 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.35 m

Plant height mean:

0.185 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Tussilago farfara is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy common among temperate species that facilitates carbon fixation under moderate environmental conditions. The plant is non-carnivorous and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrient availability for its development. Its foliage displays significant morphological variation, with leaves reaching a maximum length of 32 cm and maintaining a consistent width of 11 cm (representing both the minimum and maximum recorded values). The average leaf size is approximately 489.975 cm², supported by a mean leaf width of 11 cm. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 196.25 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and its specific strategy for balancing light interception with resource economy.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

32 cm

Leaf size mean:

489.975 cm²

Leaf width mean:

11 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

196.25 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Tussilago farfara is driven by sexual processes, as asexual reproduction is notably absent. The flowering period is concentrated around the month of April, serving as the primary window for reproductive activity. The plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects such as bees to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Self-fertilization is a present capability within the species, ensuring reproductive success. Following pollination, the plant develops indehiscent fruits classified as achenes. These fruits are relatively small, characterized by a mean length of 0.35 cm (ranging from 0.3 to 0.4 cm) and a mean width of 0.4 cm. The seeds contained within these fruits are minute, with a consistent mean length of 4 mm and a mean mass of approximately 0.00027875 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.00025 g to a maximum of 0.0005 g). Dispersal of the progeny is achieved through an anemochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are primarily dispersed by the wind.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Fruit length max:

0.4 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.35 cm

Fruit length min:

0.3 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width mean:

0.4 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

4 mm

Seed mass max:

5e-04 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00027875 g

Seed mass min:

0.00025 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Tussilago farfara has 2 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, leaf.

Flower

1. Planta medica
2. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine
3. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Leaf

1. Natural product research
2. Natural product communications

Chemicals

Tussilago farfara has 115 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include quercetin, Flavonoids, Hyperoside, RUTIN, 3-O-Caffeoylquinic acid.

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Flavonoids

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Natural product research
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hyperoside

1. Dr. Duke
2. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

RUTIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

3-O-Caffeoylquinic acid

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. Orvosi hetilap

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Journal of chromatography. A
2. Pharmaceutical biology

Gallic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

MANGANESE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Orvosi hetilap

Activities

Tussilago farfara has 424 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antitussive, Expectorant, Antibacterial, Neuroprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antitussive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Journal of AOAC International
4. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
5. Pharmaceutical biology

Expectorant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
4. Pharmaceutical biology

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Neuroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

Antitubercular

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Tussilago farfara has 20 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include asthma, antitussive, cough, Candida albicans, Leishmaniasis.

Asthma

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Antitussive

1. Planta medica
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Cough

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Pharmaceutical biology

Candida albicans

1. Zhurnal mikrobiologii, epidemiologii i immunobiologii

Leishmaniasis

1. Natural product research

Streptococcus pyogenes

1. Zhurnal mikrobiologii, epidemiologii i immunobiologii

Allergic reactions

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Arthritis

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Bronchopneumonia

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Coughs

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Preparations

Tussilago farfara has 10 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include FB fractions, MeOH extract of the leaves, antitussive herbal medicine, crude ethanolic extracts, dry extracts.

Fb fractions

1. Journal of medicinal food

Meoh extract of the leaves

1. Natural product communications

Antitussive herbal medicine

1. Planta medica

Crude ethanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dry extracts

1. Molecular medicine reports

Ethyl acetate extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Methanol extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

N-hexane extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Traditional chinese medicinal herbal extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Young petiole

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica