I ALWAYS suggest to those becoming interested in the identification of plants to start in February or at the latest early March. My reason is that if you start in May or June there will be so many flowers that you will be confused by the sheer numbers.

Three early flowers are the coltsfoot, the butterbur and dogs mercury. The coltsfoot is found almost anywhere from river banks to open areas, but it does not like shade. This is obviously why it blooms very early in the year.

The flowers of the coltsfoot appear long before the leaves. It is the leaves, however, which give us the common name because they are shaped like a horse's hoof.

In the old days coltsfoot was used in two ways to cure coughs. Believe it or believe it not, the leaves were smoked and the inhalation has been proved to help cure coughs. We still use coltsfoot rock for the same purpose. This can be produced by simmering the roots of the plant in hot honey.

The butterbur belongs to the same family as the coltsfoot and its flowers also appear before the leaves. In this case the leaves are huge and umbrella shaped. In the old days they were used to wrap up butter prior to the invention of greaseproof paper.

The plant also had a medical use. When boiled in water and drunk, butterbur caused the patient to sweat copiously and this reduced temperature. It is said that it was used throughout Europe, especially during the time of the black death.

Butterbur is one of the commonest plants in East Lancashire and occurs in most damp locations, especially along the banks of our canals and watercourses.

Dogs mercury is another common plant throughout the hedges and woodlands of Britain. It appears as early as January in shady places but is often overlooked because its flowers are greenish yellow and not particularly attractive.

Why the name 'dog' and why the name mercury?

Dog comes from the Anglo-Saxon and simply means common. We also have dog rose, dog daisy and dog violet.

Mercury the metal was used in medieval England in an attempt to cure stomach ache. We now know that mercury is one of the most poisonous substances and should never be 'eaten.' Mercury was always very expensive and so only the rich could afford to kill themselves.

The less well off were treated with 'dogs' mercury but all the modern evidence suggests that the plant will do very little harm to the patient. There is, however, no evidence to show that it does any good either.

Those people, like myself, who know something -- but not enough -- about herbalism should take an interest in the old uses of plants. Nothing at all should be done, however, until professional help is called in.

In the meantime we should all enjoy the flowers that bloom in the spring.