Introduction of Kuǎn Dōnɡ Huā: Common Coltsfoot Flower
✵The article records the herb Common Coltsfoot Flower—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—one plant species: Tussilago farfara L., and provides a detailed introduction to the plant’s botanical features, growth characteristics, ecological environment, macroscopic characteristics of the herb, pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Flos Farfarae (Common Coltsfoot Flower)
Pinyin Name: Kuǎn Dōnɡ Huā
English Name: Common Coltsfoot Flower
Latin Name:Flos Farfarae Properties and Flavor: Warm, pungent, slightly bitter
Brief Introduction:Flos Farfarae is the dried flower bud of Tussilago farfara L., used clinically to treat chronic cough with profuse expectoration and hemoptysis in consumptive diseases.
Botanical Source:Flos Farfarae (Common Coltsfoot Flower) is the dried flower bud of Tussilago farfara L., a perennial herb belonging to the genus Tussilago L., family Asteraceae (Compositae, daisy family), order Asterales. It is also known as Common Coltsfoot Flower and Kuǎn Dōnɡ Huā.
Classical herbal works define Flos Farfarae (Common Coltsfoot Flower) as the dried flower bud of Tussilago farfara L. This commonly used species is described below:
(1) Tussilago farfara L.
Botanical Description:Tussilago farfara L. is commonly known as Common Coltsfoot. It is a perennial herbaceous plant. The rhizome is brown and horizontally creeping underground. Leaves emerge from the basal region after flowering; the leaf blade is broadly cordate or reniform, 3–12 cm long and 4–14 cm wide, with an orbicular or bluntly pointed apex; the margin is undulate with thickened, blackish-brown, sparse teeth; the upper surface bears arachnoid hairs, while the lower surface is densely covered with white panniform (woolly) hairs; palmate reticulate venation with 5–9 prominent veins; petioles are 5–19 cm long and covered with white woolly hairs. From late winter to early spring, several scapes emerge, 5–10 cm tall and covered with white tomentose hairs; bracts are elliptical, lavender-brown (light purple-brown), numbering over ten and closely arranged along the scape.
The capitulum (flower head) is terminal, bright yellow, and pendulous before blooming; the involucre is campanulate; involucral bracts are arranged in 1–2 layers and tomentose; marginal ligulate flowers are female, arranged in several rows, with inferior ovaries and 2-lobed stigmas; central tubular flowers are hermaphroditic, with 5-lobed corollas, 5 stamens, caudiform (tail-shaped) anther bases, and capitate stigmas—often sterile.
The achene is oblong, 5–10-angled, with a faintly yellow (light yellow) pappus. Flowering occurs from January to February; fruiting occurs in April.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows on sunny, relatively warm ditch banks or slopes.
Growth Characteristics: It grows wild or is cultivated in riverine fields or sandy soils. It prefers cool, humid conditions, tolerates severe cold, and is sensitive to high temperatures and drought. The optimal growth temperature is 15–25 °C (59–77 °F); mountainous areas or shaded slopes are preferred for cultivation. It can be intercropped with fruit trees on flatlands. Humus-rich soil or slightly acidic sandy loam is ideal for planting.
Characteristics of the Herb: Unopened capitula are irregular short rod-shaped, solitary or with 2–3 inflorescence bases fused—commonly termed "three successive flowers"—measuring 1–2.5 cm in length. The upper end is thicker; the lower end tapers or bears a short pedicel; numerous imbricated, fish-scale-like bracts cover the outer surface. The outer surface of the bracts is reddish-purple (reddish-violet) or pale red; the inner surface is densely covered with white woolly (tomentose) hairs. The herb is lightweight. When torn, white filamentous woolly hairs become visible; ligulate and tubular flowers are slender and minute, approximately 2 mm long. The herb has a fragrant odor, a slightly bitter and pungent taste, and exhibits mucilaginous viscosity; prolonged chewing yields a cottony (flocculent) texture. High-grade herb material is large, plump, purplish, and short-pedicellate. Woody old stalks and fully opened capitula are unsuitable for medicinal use.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Effects on the respiratory system; (2) Effects on the circulatory system.
Medicinal efficacy: Moistens the lung, descends Lung Qi, relieves cough, and reduces phlegm; indicated for dyspnea and cough with excessive sputum, paroxysmal cough, and hemoptysis.
Administration of Flos Farfarae (Kuǎn Dōnɡ Huā):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Flos Farfarae (Kuǎn Dōnɡ Huā)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 5–9 grams; (2) 0.5–3 qián (approximately 1.5–9 grams); (3) 3–10 grams, administered as a water decoction; alternatively, prepared as a paste or finely powdered herb for pills or powders. External use: Apply an appropriate amount of finely powdered herb topically.
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1.Introduction of Kuǎn Dōnɡ Huā: Common Coltsfoot Flower
✵The article records the herb Common Coltsfoot Flower—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—one plant species: Tussilago farfara L., and provides a detailed introduction to the plant’s botanical features, growth characteristics, ecological environment, macroscopic characteristics of the herb, pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Kuǎn Dōnɡ Huā
Botanical Description: Tussilago farfara L. is commonly known as Common Coltsfoot. It is a perennial herbaceous plant. The rhizome is brown and horizontally creeping underground. Leaves emerge from the basal region after flowering; the leaf blade is broadly cordate or reniform, 3–12 cm long and 4–14 cm wide, with an orbicular or bluntly pointed apex; the margin is undulate with thickened, blackish-brown, sparse teeth; the upper surface bears arachnoid hairs, while the lower surface is densely covered with white panniform (woolly) hairs; palmate reticulate venation with 5–9 prominent veins; petioles are 5–19 cm long and covered with white woolly hairs. From late winter to early spring, several scapes emerge, 5–10 cm tall and covered with white tomentose hairs; bracts are elliptical, lavender-brown (light purple-brown), numbering over ten and closely arranged along the scape.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows on sunny, relatively warm ditch banks or slopes.
Characteristics of the Herb: Unopened capitula are irregular short rod-shaped, solitary or with 2–3 inflorescence bases fused—commonly termed "three successive flowers"—measuring 1–2.5 cm in length. The upper end is thicker; the lower end tapers or bears a short pedicel; numerous imbricated, fish-scale-like bracts cover the outer surface. The outer surface of the bracts is reddish-purple (reddish-violet) or pale red; the inner surface is densely covered with white woolly (tomentose) hairs. The herb is lightweight. When torn, white filamentous woolly hairs become visible; ligulate and tubular flowers are slender and minute, approximately 2 mm long. The herb has a fragrant odor, a slightly bitter and pungent taste, and exhibits mucilaginous viscosity; prolonged chewing yields a cottony (flocculent) texture. High-grade herb material is large, plump, purplish, and short-pedicellate. Woody old stalks and fully opened capitula are unsuitable for medicinal use.
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