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Tussilago farfara
Coltsfoot is a herbaceous perennial producing bright yellow flowers typical fro Daisy family (Asteraceae); on a scales-covered stem early in spring. The rosette of real leaves will follow afterwards. Observed growing in colonies, often as a massif.
Common Eurasian plant, observed growing as massifs in alpine environment, on edges of mountain forests and mountain grasslands in French Alps.
The plant was considered so useful as medicinal herb and as a food, that it seems to have been imported by colons to the New World. Flowerbuds and leaves were in traditional use, as a remedy, for bronchitis, lung cancer, emphysema, inflammation, rheumatism, swelling and water retention, and tuberculosis. I'm finding also reports on edibility of flower buds and young leaves; but also on their potential toxicity... Interesting thing is that its ashes (leaves were dried and burnt) were used as salt replacement or condiment - I wonder how did the people come up with that one.
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