Petasites Sp. - Coltsfoot

Family: Asteracea - Sunflowers

"Perennial herb from stout rhizome; ± dioecious. Stem: erect, unbranched, often appearing before basal leaves. Leaf: basal large, long-petioled, blades wide, entire, toothed, or ± palmately lobed; cauline generally sheathing, scale-like, proximal sometimes with blades. Inflorescence: heads generally disciform or weakly radiate, sometimes discoid, in raceme-like to ± umbel-like clusters; involucre ± cylindric to bell-shaped; main phyllaries in 1 series, equal; receptacle flat to convex, epaleate. Pistillate flower: 0–20(70) (sterile) in staminate heads, (1)30–130+ in pistillate heads; corollas of 2 kinds, white to pale yellow, sometimes ± purple, outer often with short ray, inner cylindric. Disk flower: generally staminate (rarely bisexual), 0–12 at center of pistillate heads, 11–78 in staminate heads; corolla white to pale yellow, sometimes ± purple; anther base entire or short-sagittate, tips acute; style tips slightly thickened, entire or slightly lobed; pappus reduced. Fruit: cylindric, 5–10-ribbed; pappus bristles 60–100+.
15–18 species: North America, Eurasia. (Greek: broad-brimmed hat, from large leaves) " [Jepson]

Local Species;

  1. Petasites frigidus [E-flora] - Sweet coltsfoot &
    • var frigidus [E-flora]
    • var palmatus [E-flora][PCBC][TSFTK] - Palmate Coltsfoot
    • Var. nivalis [PCBC] - Sweet Coltsfoot
  2. Petasites japonicus - Japanese butterbur [E-flora][PCBC]

Species Mentioned;

Petasites & Tussilago sp., P. sagittatus, P. hyperboreus, P. frigidus, P. palmatus, P. japonicus.[Schofield]

Hazards

Though coltsfoot is generally regarded as quite safe in moderation, it is not recommended for extended use in high dosages. Like comfrey, the plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can irritate the liver, causing lesions if taken in excess. Large amounts of coltsfoot tea may spark abortion. [Schofield]

Edible Uses

"... prepares coltsfoot for tea-making by drying the herb, and then whizzing it in a blender. The felty leaf backing balls up and can easily be discarded. Large summer leaves are placed on top of vegetable kegs to prevent mold."[Schofield]

Other Uses

Medicinal Uses

Petasites frigidus - Sweet Coltsfoot

Family: Asteraceae (Aster family)[E-flora-2]

Other Names: arctic sweet coltsfoot)[E-flora-2]
SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC

Introduction

"Four varieties of this species are presently recognized in British Columbia: var. frigidus, var.nivalis, var. palmatus, and var. sagittatus. Petasites frigidus var. sagittatus is recognized at the variety level, however, it was previously recognized at the species level in the Illustrated Flora of British Columbia. This differs from the current presentation in the Flora of North America. However, the species taxonomy will be reassessed by the BC Conservation Data Centre shortly. The map on this species page reflects specimens in collections not identified to the sub-taxa level." [E-flora-2]

General: "Perennial herb from a creeping root; stems erect, branched above, numerous, more or less white woolly-hairy, with parallel-veined bracts 2.5-6 cm long, reduced upwards, 5-50 cm tall, flowering stems appear before the leaves." [IFBC-E-flora-2]

Leaves: "Basal leaves arising directly from the creeping root, triangular to heart-shaped on long stalks, shallowly to palmately lobed or toothed, white-woolly to nearly glabrous beneath, green and somewhat hairy above, 4-50 cm long; stem leaves alternate, reduced, represented by parallel-veined bracts 1-6 cm long, more or less white woolly-hairy." [IFBC-E-flora-2]

Flowers: "Heads disciform or with ray and disk flowers, several to many in a round- to flat-topped inflorescence, stalks glandular and white-woolly; involucres 6-15 mm tall; involucral bracts oblanceolate to lanceolate, pointed, hairy basally with multicellular hairs, the crosswalls often purple, margins translucent, tips fine-hairy; ray flowers few, whitish or pinkish; disk flowers whitish." [IFBC-E-flora-2]

Fruits: "Achenes 5-10-ribbed, glabrous, rarely sparsely long-hairy, 3-4.5 mm; pappus of numerous white, hairlike bristles." [IFBC-E-flora-2]

Notes:

Three varieties occur in BC.

1. Leaves merely coarsely toothed or shallowly and obscurely lobed; plants of the subalpine and alpine zones........................ var. frigidus

1. Leaves conspicuously lobed; plants of the lowland to alpine zones.

2. Leaves palmately lobed and usually deeply cleft more than 1/2 way to the leaf base, usually broader than long; plants of the lowland and montane zones........................... var. palmatus (Ait.) Cronq.

2. Leaves lobed, sometimes palmately, but usually not cleft more than 1/2 way to the leaf base, usually longer than broad; plants of the subalpine and alpine zones...................... var. nivalis (Greene) Cronq. [IFBC-E-flora-2]

Habitat / Range

"Wet to moist ditches, streambanks, meadows and forests in the lowland to alpine zones; var. palmatus is common throughout all BC except the Queen Charlotte Islands and adjacent coast, var. nivalis is common throughout BC, and var. frigidus is frequent in extreme N BC and rare southward; var. palmatus - E to NF and S to MA, MI and CA; var. nivalis - E to PQ and N MN and S to N OR, and var. frigidus - circumboreal, N to AK, YT and NT, Eurasia." [IFBC-E-flora-2]

Origin Status: Native [E-flora-2]

Ecological Indicator Information

"A very shade­intolerant, montane to alpine, circumpolar forbs distributed in Pacific, Cordilleran, and Central North America. Species occurs on very moist to wet, nitrogen-rich soils within alpine tundra and sub­alpine boreal climates. Frequent in non-forested communities, and in open-canopy forests, common on floodplains and on exposed mineral soil at roadsides and landslides. Occasional in nutrient-rich wetlands"

  • Indicator Plants of Coastal British Columbia (Information applies to coastal locations only)[E-flora-2]

Edible Uses

Roots
  • "Roasted and eaten by eskimos.[Schofield] P. frigidus; Roots - cooked[172, 183]." [PFAF-3]

Leaves

  • P. frigidus; "Young leaves - raw or cooked[46, 61, 257]. They are mixed with other greens and used as a potherb[183, 257]. The leaves can also be made into a sauerkraut[257]." [PFAF-3]
    • Ash P. frigidus; "The burnt leaves are used as a salt substitute[172]. The stems and leaves, whilst still green, are rolled up into balls, dried and then placed on top of a very small fire on a rock and burned[207]. A very acceptable condiment for piñole[207]."[PFAF-3]
      • P. palmatus; "The ash of the plant is used as a salt substitute[46, 61, 95, 102, 183]. To prepare the salt, the stems and leaves are rolled up into balls whilst still green, and after being carefully dried they are placed on top of a very small fire on a rock and burned[213]."[PFAF]
    Young Stalks and Flowers
    • Young stalks and flower heads - P. frigidus; "cooked[183]."[PFAF-3]
    • Young flower stalks P. palmatus; "...used before the flower buds appear, are boiled until tender and seasoned with salt[172, 177, 183]." [PFAF-2]
    • Leafstalks: P. palmatus; "Peeled and eaten raw[105, 177, 183, 257]." [PFAF-2]
    • Flower buds: P. palmatus; "cooked[183]." [PFAF-2]

    Other Uses

    • Stuffing: P. frigidus; "The cotton-like seed heads have been used as a stuffing material for mattresses[257]."[PFAF-3]
    • Container: P. frigidus; "The leaves have sometimes been folded into conical containers for collecting fruit[257]. They have also been used to make a temporary funnel[257]."[PFAF-3]

    Medicinal Uses

    P. frigidus; Antispasmodic, poultice[172]. [PFAF-3]

    • Leaves: P. frigidus; "An infusion of the dried leaves has been used in the treatment of colds, head and chest congestion[257]."[PFAF-3]
    • Roots: P. palmatus; "The roots have been used in treating the first stages of grippe and consumption[257]. The dried and grated roots have been applied as a dressing on boils, swellings and running sores[257]. An infusion of the crushed roots has been used as a wash for sore eyes[257]. A syrup for treating coughs and lung complaints has been made from the roots of this species combined with mullein(Verbascum sp.) and plum root (Prunus sp.)[257]." [PFAF-2]

    Cultivation

    Groundcover: "A good ground cover for the wilder areas of the garden[200]." [PFAF-3]

    P. frigidus; "Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[1], but prefers a deep fertile humus-rich soil that is permanently moist but not stagnant, succeeding in shade, semi-shade or full sun[200]. Prefers partial shade[31]. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[233]. A very invasive plant, too rampant for anything other than the wild garden[187, 200]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required." [PFAF-3]

    Synonyms

    • Petasites frigidus var palmatus = p. palmatus [E-flora][PCBC]. & [ThePlantList.org] - 1/3 Confidence - Accessed Feb 11, 2014
    • P. frigidus var. nivalis = P. nivalis. P. hyperboreus. [PCBC]
    • Petasites frigidus - P. speciosa. Tussilago frigida.[PFAF-3]

    Petasites japonicus - Japanese Butterbur

    Family: Asteraceae (Aster family) [E-flora]

    Other Names: Japanese sweet coltsfoot [E-flora]

    Identification

    General: "Perennial herb from a creeping rhizome; stems erect, branched above, numerous, sparsely long-hairy to thinly woolly-hairy, 0.2-1.0 m tall; flowering stems appear before the leaves.[IFBC-E-flora]

    Leaves: "Basal leaves arising directly from the rhizome, thick, round to heart-shaped on long stalks, shallowly to conspicuously toothed, usually with 20 or more teeth per side, white-woolly to nearly glabrous beneath, green and somewhat hairy above, the blades 20-40 cm long, 10-60 cm wide; stem leaves reduced to parallel-veined bracts, 1-8 cm long, reduced upwards, sparsely long-hairy. [IFBC-E-flora]

    Flowers: "Heads disciform in elongate to flat-topped clusters, stalks moderately to densely white-woolly; involucres 6-12 mm tall; involucral bracts lance-shaped with hairs at the base, green, sometimes with translucent margins; disk flowers whitish.[IFBC-E-flora]

    Fruits: "Achenes 5- to 10-ribbed, glabrous; pappus of white, hairlike bristles. [IFBC-E-flora]

    Habitat / Range

    "Moist ditches and fields in the lowland zone; infrequent in SW and SC BC; introduced from Japan." [IFBC-E-flora]

    Origin Status: Exotic [E-flora]

    Edible Uses

    • "Leaf stalks - cooked and used like rhubarb[1, 2, 46, 116]. The stems can be up to 1.2 metres long[104]. They can be boiled and seasoned, pickled and used in winter soups or preserved in miso[183]. They can be boiled, dipped in cold water then peeled and baked - they have a pleasant fragrant taste[206]." [PFAF]
    • Flowering Stems: "The young flowering stems can be eaten cooked[206]." [PFAF]
    • "Flower buds cooked or used as a flavouring[1, 22, 46, 61, 105]. A slightly bitter yet agreeable flavour[116, 206], they are much prized in Japan[183]. They can be eaten whilst still green with miso or boiled down in soy sauce[183]." [PFAF]

    Other Uses

    • Misc: "The leaf stalks can be used as walking sticks[206]."[PFAF]

    Medicinal Uses

    • Plant: "The plant (though the exact part of the plant used is not specified) is antiasthmatic, antispasmodic, expectorant and poultice[147]. A decoction is used in the treatment of chronic coughing and pulmonary 'deficiency', laboured or difficult breathing and asthma, constant sputum formation and pulmonary tuberculosis[147]." [PFAF]

    Nutritional Information

    Japanese Butterbur - P. japonicus [Unspecified - PFAF]
    Part: Leaves (Dry weight) Per 100 g dry weight
    • Calories250
    • Riboflavin (mg)0.56
    • Water0.00%
    • Niacin (mg)5.56
    • Protein (g)19.5
    • Vitamin C (mg)56
    • Fat (g)2.8
    • Vitamin A (mg)278
    • Iron (mg)2.8
    • Carbohydrate (g)52.8
    • Calcium (mg)1194
    • Fiber (g)19.4
    • Phosphorus (mg)556
    • Ash (g)25
    • Sodium (mg)917
    • Thiamine (mg)0.56
    • Potassium (mg)12500

    Cultivation

    Groundcover: "Plants can be grown as ground cover in damp shady places[206]. They are too invasive for most gardens and should only be used where they have plenty of room[208]." [PFAF]

    "Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[1], but prefers a deep fertile humus-rich soil that is permanently moist but not stagnant, succeeding in shade, semi-shade or full sun[200]. Requires a moist shady position[187]. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[233]. A very invasive plant, too rampant for anything other than the wild garden[187, 200]. Its roots are very difficult to eradicate[200]. The sub-species P. japonicus giganteus has huge leaves up to 1.5 metres across on stems 2 metres tall[187]. It has a poorer flavour than the species type[206]. Sometimes cultivated in E. Asia as a food plant[1, 58]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required." [PFAF]

    Synonyms

    • Nardosmia japonica.[PFAF][E-flora]

    References