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MISC. PUBLICATION 77, TJ. S. DEPT. OF AGRICITLTURE 



flower buds expand they give the spike a somewhat feathery appearance. Buds, 

 blossoms, and seed pods may be seen on the spikes at the same time, the ripe pods 

 full of seeds remaining on the dead stem during the winter. The flowers emit an 

 offensive odor. The rootstock is large, horizontal, and knotty, and from the 

 lower part are produced long, fleshy roots. 



Part used. — The rootstock, collected after the fruit has ripened, usually in 

 September. In reasonably constant demand. 



COLTSFOOT 



Tussilago farfara L. (Fig. 41.) 



Other common names. — Coughwort, assfoot, horsefoot, foalfoot, buH's-foot, 

 horsehoof, colt-herb, clayweed, cleats, dove-dock, dummyweed, ginger, ginger- 

 root, hoofs, sowfoot, British tobacco, gowan. 



Habitat and range. — Coltsfoot is found along brooks and in wet places and 

 moist clayey soil along roadsides from eastern Quebec to Pennsylvania, Ohio, and 

 Minnesota. 



Description. — The white woolly, scaly flowering stalks of this plant with their 

 yellow blossoms appear in the spring before the leaves. There are several stalks, 

 from 3 to 18 inches in height, arising directly from the rootstock and each one 

 bearing at the top a single yellow flower head having in the center numerous 

 tubular disk flowers which are surrounded by ray flowers. The flowers open only 

 in sunny weather. The ripe seed head looks somewhat like that of a dandelion. 

 Some time after the flowers appear the leaves are produced on long erect stalks 

 directly from the rootstock. They are from 3 to 7 inches wide and in shape 

 resemble a horse's hoof. The lower surface is white with densely matted woolly 

 hairs. 



Part used. — The leaves and roots, the former collected when they are nearly 

 full size. In limited demand onlv. 



Figure 41.— Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) 



Figure 42.— Coiufrey (Symphytum officinale) 



COMFREY 



Symphytum officinale L. (Fig. 42.) 



Other common names. — Symphytum, healing herb, knitback, ass-ear, back- 

 wort, blackwort, bruisewort, gum plant, slippery-root. 



Habitat and range. — Comfrey occurs in waste places from Newfoundland to 

 Minnesota and south to Maryland. 



Description. — This coarse, hairy herb is from 2 to 3 feet high, erect and branched 

 with thick, rough leaves. The lower leaves are 3 to 10 inches long, the upper ones 

 smaller, lance shaped, and stemless. The terminal flower clusters, composed of 

 numerous purplish or dirty white, tubular bell-shaped flowers, are produced from 

 June to August. The nutlets which follow are brown, shining, and somewhat 

 wrinkled. The dried root is very mucilaginous. 



Part used. — The root, dug in autumn or in early spring. In limited demand 

 only. 



