Tussilago farfara
Common name
coltsfoot
Family
Asteraceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledonous composites
Conservation status
Not applicable
Habitat
Terrestrial.
Detailed description
Herb with stout rootstock and rhizomes. Basal leaves glabrous on upper surface, moderately to densely lanate on lower; petiole hairy, > lamina, 3~35cm long; lamina reniform to suborbicular, cordate, acute, shallowly lobed and again denticulate, 3~20cm diam.; lobes with flat or concave sides. Infl. usu. appearing before leaves, erect, 5~30cm tall; cauline leaves > 10, ovate-triangular, entire, around 1cm long. Supplementary bracts 0~2. Involucral bracts approx. 20, linear- to ovate-oblong, 9~14mm long. Ray florets numerous, ligules yellow, linear, 3~5mm long. Achenes 3~5mm long. (- Webb et. al., 1988)
Similar taxa
A low growing perennial mat forming plant (Regional Councils n.d.). A herb with a stout rootstock and rhizomes (Webb et. al. 1988). A plant with yellow flower heads (Webb et. al. 1988; Regional Councils n.d.). The leaves of the upper aerial part of the plant are egg-shaped to triangular with shallow lobes (Webb et. al. 1988).
Flowering
October
Flower colours
Yellow
Life cycle
Perennial
Year naturalised
1975
Origin
Europe, N Africa, N&W Asia
Reason for introduction
Agricultural
National Pest Plant Accord species
This plant is listed in the 2020 National Pest Plant Accord. The National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA) is an agreement to prevent the sale and/or distribution of specified pest plants where either formal or casual horticultural trade is the most significant way of spreading the plant in New Zealand. For up to date information and an electronic copy of the 2020 Pest Plant Accord manual (including plant information and images) visit the MPI website.