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Coltsfoot is a tundra plant that grows fairly close to the
ground. The leaves are usually 5 to 6 inches wide and and
are shaped roughly like a triangle. The flower stems are one
of the first to appear in the spring and virtually disappear
later in the summer. The leaves, however, grow all over the
tundra.
The leaves of milukatuk were used in old times to
cover berries and greens that were stored in barrels. The
leaves prevented mold form growing on the berries and kept
birds out of the barrels. No one in Golovin reported the use
of the plant for food; although, many books reported the use
of the root as a food source (Hulten, p. 913; Heller, p. 20;
Schofield, p. 44). Hulten describes that the roots are eaten
by the Siberian Eskimos. Heller describes that the leaves
are eaten mixed with other greens early in the spring.
Schofield mentions the use of the the leaves in teas as
medicine, but cautions that "large amount of coltsfoot can
cause abortion. Coltsfoot contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids
that can irritate the liver, and should not be used for
extended periods or in high doses."
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