COLTSFOOT loi 



save the Sallow, are in bloom. TIk- plant is monctcious. In the ray 

 the florets are female (hence the fully-developed achenes at a later 

 stage only in the ray). The disk tlorets are male. Both disk and ray 

 florets are golden-yellow, and tlierc is little to distinguish them at first 

 sight, but those in the ray are ligulate, those in the disk bell-shaped. 

 In the ra\' llorels, which are numerous, over 300, there is a pollen 

 brush which is not of any use in female florets, and it may be that 

 there were originally male florets also, but this provision is not usual in 

 female florets in this order. The disk florets are much fewer, abdui 

 40 in number, and alone cdiit.iin the honey. The flowerheads close at 

 night, and when there is rain, as a protection for the honey and pollen. 

 When the ray florets have been visited and pollinated they do not 

 wither as is usual at once, but remain fresh till the anthers have opened 

 some days after. Insect visitors are numerous. The disk florets retain 

 a rudimentary pistil. In die ordinar\- course the flowers are cross- 

 pollinated, the proterogynous flowerheads ensuring this. 



Self-pollination without insects is impossible. The flowers are 

 visited by the Honey Bee, Audrena, Ha /ictus, Diptera [Boiuby/ins 

 nurjor. Jii-istalis faiax), Coleoptera (^Mc/igethes). 



The plant is provided wiih white silky pappus to aid the fruli in 

 dispersal by the wind. 



Coltsfoot is a clay-loving plant, being confined to a clay soil. 



The leaves on the upper side are covered with a large " cluster- 

 cup " fungus, Coleosponnii! soiuhi. which is a beautiful o])ject under the 

 lens. The stomata lie below covered with felted down, which is 

 greyish -white. 



A Hymenopterous insect, Mc/Iiiiiis sahn/osiis, Lepidoplera, (daucous 

 Shears {Hadena glaiica), Halonota bntiiiiliiaiia, Scopu/a hit ca lis, Piero- 

 phorus li'igonodacfv/iis. are to be nut with on this food pl.uu. 



Tiissi/ago, Pliny, is from (iissis, a cough, with reference to its 

 use in curing coughs. Farfara. Pliny, is a Latin name for the 

 [jiant. 



I he name Colt's-foot is gi\en because of the; shape of the leaf It 

 is called Ass's-foot, Bull-foot, Clatter-clogs, Clayt, Clayweed, Cleats, 

 Clot, Colt-herb, Colt's-foot, Cough wort, Cout-fit, Cow-heave, Dishalaga, 

 Dove-dock, Dummy Weed, Foalfoot, Foilefoot, Tushylucky Gowan, 

 Hog-weed, Hoofs, Horse-hoof, Horse-hove, Son-before-the-Father, 

 Sow Foot, Tushalan. The name .Son-before-the-Father is the name 

 given because the flowers appear before the leaves. \\ ine made from 

 it is called Clayt wine, and beer made from it Cleats, and these with 

 the name Clayweed refer to its clay habitat. Colt's-foot, Cow-heave 



