Trending: colt's-foot (Tussilago farfara) — 426 observations this week
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Phenology
Those bright yellow daisy-like flowers pushing up through bare soil in early spring — often mistaken for dandelions — are colt's-foot, and spotting them in your neighborhood means pollinators are actively foraging weeks before most flowers open.
Colt's-foot is one of the very first wildflowers to bloom each spring, sending up bright yellow flowers on scaly stems before any leaves appear — which is unusual and makes it easy to identify. This week, over 400 people across the world photographed and recorded it on the nature-tracking app iNaturalist, making it one of the most watched plants of the moment. It's a sign that spring is truly arriving, and that early bees and other insects now have a rare early food source.
Key Findings
426 research-grade observations of colt's-foot were submitted to iNaturalist in a single week, placing it among the most observed plant species globally for that period.
Colt's-foot (Tussilago farfara) is one of the earliest spring bloomers in temperate regions, flowering before its leaves emerge — a phenological trait that makes it a reliable seasonal indicator.
The spike in observations reflects active citizen-science engagement with early spring phenology, providing real-time data on bloom timing across the Northern Hemisphere.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Colt's-foot, a cheerful yellow wildflower that blooms before its leaves appear, is surging in citizen-science observations this week with 426 research-grade sightings recorded on iNaturalist — signaling that spring phenology is well underway across the Northern Hemisphere.
Abstract Preview
colt's-foot is among the most observed plant species this week with 426 research-grade observations.
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Species Mentioned
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