Monday, April 13, 2009

Coltsfoot/ Macro Monday

Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)

The coltsfoot flower looks similar to a dandelion, doesn’t it? Actually, the blossom is smaller than a dandelion and, if you look closely, you can see it has radiating petals around the outside and disk-shaped flowers in the centre.

Plus the scaly, hairy stem is solid (not hollow like a dandelion) and the plant’s hoof-shaped leaves (get it? Colt’s foot) appear after the flowers.

This member of the Aster family blooms early in spring near roadsides and often on waste and stony ground. In fact this one was photographed on a vacant lot.


To see more macro shots visit Lisa's Chaos at http://lisaschaos.com

19 comments:

Darla said...

Interesting with the two different petal shapes. I hope you show the leaves later.

Darla

VALKYRIEN said...

Great macro! This flower is so small, I cannot believe the crispy detales in the shot!

Trish ~ ♥ ~ said...

How pretty, lovely yellow color that just says Spring!

Small City Scenes said...

Interesting flower and I believe it was once used as a herb for a cough remedy. I love the center it looks like corn. MB

Lowell said...

Superb photograph! I was surprised at how small it actually is.

Horseartist said...

Nice contrast of the center to the petal in texture. And thanks for the extra info on coltsfoot.

kath said...

I love a little lesson with the macro! Thanks, now I'm going to have to look for one of these!

margie said...

i love that you even know all that!!!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

I'm glad it's NOT a Dandelion... We have Dandelions here and constantly are digging them up!!!!

SO--since it's not a Dandelion, I'll say that it's pretty!!!! Ha...

Have a great day!
Hugs,
Betsy

PERBS said...

Beautiful! Now I amwonderinf if my "dandelion" post was really this flower because one of the photos had a center like that and it grew on the side of a road. You are so knowledgeable!

Judy said...

it is a magnificent photo of a sunny flower!! i had never seen coltsfoot before saturday, and the colonies are in an area where i have walked for years! was i walking with my eyes closed? my camera heps me see more of my world!!!

amanda said...

Love wild flowers and this one is no exception, I don't have any shots of Coltsfoot and lovely as this though!

Anonymous said...

That's an awesome blossum! Pretty yellow color.

Mirage said...

Beautiful flower! It also passes from mellow yellow monday! Sunny Spring flower!

Mojo said...

The center almost looks like corn still on the cob. But without the silk. Marvelous macro!

Pat - Arkansas said...

Wonderful macro!! Thanks.

CameoRoze said...

Brilliant color. Nice framing.

Lovin' Macro Mondays,
Cameo @-->-->---

Lulda Casadaga said...

WOW! Great burst of YELLOW! Very nice...:)

pictureeachday said...

Lovely photo! You share so many beautiful flowers with us, and always with such informative posts. Your blog is a lovely reminder to look down! I was going to comment on the "corn kernels" in the center of the flower, but I see a couple others already had the same thought :)

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East Gwillimbury is a rural town less than an hour north of Toronto, Canada's largest city. My family calls me CameraGirl because I take my camera with me wherever I go.