Petasites sagittatus
(Banks) Gray
Arrowleaf sweet coltsfoot, Arrow-leaved coltsfoot
gbif· cc-by-nc
Wisconsin State Herbarium, Vascular Plants (WIS-)
gbif· cc-by-nc
Wisconsin State Herbarium, Vascular Plants (WIS-)
gbif· cc-by-nc
Wisconsin State Herbarium, Vascular Plants (WIS-)
Description
A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has a thick creeping rootstock. The leaves are at the base. The leaf blades are arrow shape or shallowly lobed. They are 5-10 cm long. The flower stem is 16-30 cm long. It is thick, coarse and hairy. The flower stem appears before the leaves. The flowers are in a white disk. Several small flower heads appear in dense clusters at the end of the stem. The fruit is a dry achene.
Edible Uses
Young flower stalks, harvested before the flower buds appear, are boiled until tender and seasoned with salt. Young leaves are eaten cooked, though they have a felt-like texture. The ash of the plant is used as a salt substitute: the stems and leaves, while still green, are rolled into balls, dried, then burned on top of a very small fire on a rock, making a very acceptable condiment for piñole.
Traditional Uses
The leaves are dried, burned and crushed to produce a salt like flavouring. The flower stems and flower buds are boiled or steamed and dressed with garlic butter. The flowers are also battered and fried. They are chopped and added to casseroles and soups.
Medicinal Uses
The plant is antispasmodic and used as a poultice and salve. A poultice of the leaves has been applied to itchy skin and also to worms that are eating the flesh.
Distribution
It is a cool temperate plant. It grows in boggy places in the Rocky Mountains.
Where It Grows
Alaska, Canada, North America, USA,
Propagation
Sow seed in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe or in early spring, covering only lightly and keeping the compost moist. Prick seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and plant out in summer. Division succeeds at almost any time of year. Larger divisions can go directly into permanent positions; smaller ones are better potted up and grown on in light shade in a cold frame until well established, then planted out in late spring or early summer.
Other Uses
None known
References (5)
- Cormack, R. G. H., 1967, Wild Flowers of Alberta. Commercial Printers Edmonton, Canada. p 390
- Holloway, P. S. & Alexander, G., 1990, Ethnobotany of the Fort Yukon Region, Alaska. Economic Botany, Vol. 44, No. 2 pp. 214-225
- Lim, T. K., Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plants Volume 7 Flowers
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
- Porsild, A.E., 1974, Rocky Mountain Wild Flowers. Natural History Series No. 2 National Museums of Canada. p 420
