Coltsfoot

Description:

A perennial herbaceous plant whose flowers resemble a dandelion. Flowers bloom on leafless stems with the leaves appearing later.

Habitat:

I found many of these flowers, in various stages of development, throughout a marshy, mixed forest.

Notes:

The genus name comes from the Latin word "tussis" (cough), which alludes to the plant's reputation as a treatment for coughs. The leaves and flowers of this plant are still used in herbal medicine as an expectorant. However, it has been found to contain traces of liver affecting pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which may be toxic in large doses.