Flora's Lexicon/Coltsfoot

by Catharine Harbeson Waterman

OLTSFOOT. Tussilago Farfarus. Class 19, Syngenesia. Order: Superflua. The odd name Coltsfoot was given from the fancied resemblance of the leaves to a colt’s foot, and from the same cause it has been called, Horse-hoof, Foal-foot, and Bull-foot. The Latin name Tussilago Farfarus is from tussis, a cough, from its supposed efficacy in curing such complaints, and farfarus, a Greek term for the White Poplar, the leaves of which it resembles. Tinder is made from the cottony down on the under surface of its leaves, and they are sometimes smoked instead of tobacco.

MATERNAL CARE.

On scaly stem, with cottony down,
O’erlaid, its lemon-colour’d crown,
Which droop’d unclosed, but now erect,
The Colts-foot bright developes; deck’d
(Ere yet the impurpled stalk displays
Its dark green leaves) with countless rays,
Round countless tubes, alike in dye,
Expanded.

Mant.

Belinda! The young blossom that doth lie
So lightly on thy bosom,—clasp it there;
For on her brow an empress doth not wear,
Nor in her jewell’d zone, a gem more fair,
Or that doth deck her more becomingly.
Forget not then, that deep within thy flower
The germs lie hid of lovelier, holier things:—
Filial affection, that spontaneous springs;
High truth and maiden purity;—the power
That comes of gentleness;—ay, and more,—
Piety, nourish’d in the bosom’s core;
These, if so cherish’d, shall thy blossom bear,
And with the dews of heavenly love impearl’d,
It shall adorn thee in another world.

Wells