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Species of the Month - March 2016 Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara
Coltsfoot is a cheerful sight along road and path sides
in March, being one of the earliest plants to flower. When the
flowers appear there are no leaves, just scales up the stem. The
young leaves begin to appear after the flowers are out.
Coltsfoot growing in sandy soil at the head of Loch Feochan. It is
usually found in bare damp places, often on road verges or other
disturbed ground, but also on mud or gravel beside burns and rivers.
The flowers are a bit like those of Dandelions but have a bundle of
tubular florets in the centre, like a Daisy, with ray florets all round
the outside. Dandelion and similar flowers only have the ray
florets. The tubular florets in Coltsfoot have nectar to attract
bees, but it can pollinate itself if there are no bees around.
The fruting head is like a Dandelion "clock". Each seed is attached to a feathery pappus which enables it to blow away in the wind.
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Carl Farmer
7 Mar - Sallie found 83 on the shore below the Onich Hotel in just about
a 5 metre strip. Further along the shore were many smaller
groups.
20 Mar - In many places along road verge between Ardchattan and North
Connel - Carl
28 Mar - In riverside woods, Glencoe - Jan
30 Mar - in Tesco car park beds and Black Lynn banking, Oban - Carl
Note you can still send in
records for past species of the month. Here are the previous
March species:
Mar 2015 - Hebrew Character
Last month's page
Complete list of Species of the
Month
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