Flora of New Zealand Series

coltsfoot

Herb with stout rootstock and rhizomes. Basal lvs glabrous on upper surface, moderately to densely lanate on lower; petiole hairy, > lamina, 3-35 cm long; lamina reniform to suborbicular, cordate, acute, shallowly lobed and again denticulate, 3-20 cm diam.; lobes with flat or concave sides. Infl. usually appearing before lvs, erect, 5-30 cm tall; cauline lvs > 10, ovate-triangular, entire, c. 1 cm long. Supplementary bracts 0-2. Involucral bracts c. 20, linear- to ovate-oblong, 9-14 mm long. Ray florets numerous; ligules yellow, linear, 3-5 mm long. Achenes 3-5 mm long.

S.: Otira (Westland), Cass R. and Harper R. (inland Canterbury).

Europe, N. Africa, N. and W. Asia 1975

Streamsides, riverbeds.

FL Oct.

Coltsfoot is known from only a few localities where it has become well established by the spreading rhizomes. It is vegetatively similar to Petasites fragrans but is distinguished by the lanate, lobed and denticulate rather than regularly dentate lvs (Fig. 31).

Fig. 31. Tussilago farfara. © All rights reserved. [Image: 4X4P]