Palmate Coltsfoot

Day 182: Palmate Coltsfoot is another early-spring bog plant common in many areas of the Pacific Northwest. In Latin, it may be classified as either Petasites palmatus or Petasites frigidus var. palmatus, but in either case, "palmatus" refers to the deeply lobed palmate ("hand-like") leaves which emerge after the flowering heads. The stem is woolly, as is the underside of the leaves. Although Coltsfoot is considered edible, it is not particularly valued as a food source. However, historical records tell that Native peoples who were forced inland from the sea by white settlers burned the leaves and used the ash as a substitute for salt.