COLTSFOOT. 143 



position, but as the seeds ripen it stiffens again, and 

 re-assumes the erect position, bearing on its summit the 

 globular head of seed, very similar to that of the dandelion, 

 havvkweed, groundsell, and other members of the order. 

 The dispersion of this by the wind aids in the distribution 

 of the plant over the district, though the creeping root- 

 stalks are the most potent agencies in maintaining and 

 increasing it. Both the florets of the disk, the central 

 portion, and the surrounding rays are bright yellow. It 

 is one of the first flowers of the spring, and may be 

 looked for in March and April. We remember seeing 

 some time ago an article in a botanical paper on the pro- 

 duction and distribution of seeds, in which a root of the 

 coltsfoot was referred to as having come under observation. 

 The flowers it threw up were all counted, and then the seeds 

 it finally bore duly estimated, and the number, we re- 

 member, was 22,500. The struggle for existence is 

 severe, or we might almost expect, after studying such 

 alarming statistics, to find all Britain carpeted with colts- 

 foot. The plant is so very dissimilar in appearance at 

 different periods that both Gerarde and Parkinson give 

 two illustrations : one being entitled " Tussilago florens, 

 Coltsfoot in floure," and the other " Tussilaginis folia, the 

 leaves of Coltsfoot," or, "Tussilago herba sine flore." 

 " Fole-foot hath many white and long creeping roots, from 

 which rise up naked stalkes about a spanne long, bearing 

 at the top yellow floures, which change into down, and are 

 carried away with the winde ; when the stalk and seed is 

 perished, there appeare springing out of the earth many 

 broad leaves, green above, and next the ground of a white, 

 hoarie, or grayish colour. Seldom, or never, shall you find 

 leaves and floures at once, but the floures are past before 



