Arrow-leaved coltsfoot / Petasites sagittatus

It was surprising how few wildflowers were in bloom when I drove W of Calgary on 12 June 2014, just a short way along Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66), as far as Maclean Pond. We had a very late spring, so hopefully colourful flowers will be appearing before too long.

There are two varieties of Coltsfoot that grow in Alberta - Arrow-leaved coltsfoot (Petasites sagittatus) and Palmate coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus var palmatus). I believe that my macro photo is of Arrow-leaved Coltsfoot. I almost always forget to look at the leaves of any plant - such a bad habit! Actually, the leaves of Coltsfoot grow some distance away from the flowers.