Introduction:
Colt's foot (Tussilago farfara) Weed.
Tussilago farfara is a perennial herb which spreads mainly through underground rhizomes. During the summer, food is stored in the rhizomes for the following year’s early spring growth. Tussilago farfara thrives on gravelly soil and along roadsides. There are management strategies available to combat Tussilago farfara, but if left unchecked it can take over an entire field. It is best to stop Tussilago farfara before it spreads as controlling it once it has become established is difficult. It is believed that Tussilago farfara has some medical benefits.
Description:
Tussilago farfara “is a low growing perennial plant. It has large, deep green leaves, somewhat similar in size and shape when fully grown to those of velvetleaf or cocklebur. The plant has no main stem, however. The leaf petiole holds the leaves 10 to 20cm above the soil, often forming a complete canopy covering the soil. The top leaf surface has a smooth, almost waxy appearance, while the underside of the leaf is covered with white wool-like hairs. Usually leaf stems and larger leaf veins are distinctly purple in colour.
Occurs in:
Agricultural areas, natural forests, ruderal/disturbed, urban areas, water courses.
Habitat description:
T. farfara “has the ability to thrive on gravelly soils, and is a common weed in gravel pits. T. farfara “is found along brooks and in wet places and moist clayey soil along roadsides from eastern Quebec to Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Minnesota. The species also occurs in urban areas, agricultural areas often on roadsides and pastures and in open forests, in its natural range.
Distribution Map:
Colt's foot (Tussilago farfara) Distribution in North America shown in green.
General impacts:
When gravel from infested pits is used in roadbed maintenance, some rhizomes of Tussilago farfara survive, and start up new Tussilago farfara patches. Tussilago farfara seems to compete strongly with the roadside grasses and is not controlled by commonly used roadside herbicides. Eventually the patch may expand to creep under the fence and into an adjoining cultivated field. Tillage operations can then spread the weed throughout the field. Seed blown by the wind may also start new patches, depending on
Close up of the Colt's foot (Tussilago farfara) Weed.
the herbicide programme being used on the field where the seed germinates. In field crops, Tussilago farfara has been reported in corn, soybeans, winter wheat, spring grain and alfalfa stands. Once well-established, Tussilago farfara appears to hold its own against competition from these crops. If not controlled, Tussilago farfara can, in time, take over a field.”
Geographical range:
Native range: The native range of Tussilago farfara is mainly Europe and adjacent Asia. Its distribution becomes more scattered (or less well known) going east in Asia, and in Africa it is only found in a few areas in the north-western corner.
Known introduced range:Its known introduced range covers north-eastern US and eastern Canada.
Management information:
Chemical: Tussilago farfara, “roundup has been used for the non-selective control of T. farfara and has often given good control. Poor control has usually been due to herbicide application too early in the season. T. farfara foliage is slow to develop in the spring, particularly if the field has been worked and planted to a crop. Leaves may not be fully developed until late June or mid-July. Application of Roundup at an earlier stage will kill all foliage, but not eradicate the rhizomes. Any affected forage in the treated spots cannot be harvested until treated plants turn brown. To date, most T. farfara occurs in only a few patches in a field. If the weed has been well distributed in a field by tillage operations, it may be necessary to apply an overall spray in a non-crop situation. The best approach to T. farfara control is to stop its spread when only a few patches are present and before it becomes a serious problem throughout the field or farm.
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