Alpine Butterbur Seeds (Petasites frigidus var. frigidus)

Also known as alpine coltsfoot, this  large leafy plant (roughly reminiscent of rhubarb) is an inhabitant of moist, full sun to partially shaded ground with a high water table, seeps or springs at mid to high elevations. 

While this species occurs across most of the northern hemisphere in cool, damp climates, there are distinct subspecies, each of which tend to occupy specific habitat niches, elevation ranges, or mountain zones. Among the Ainu people of northern Japan and the Siberian islands, butterburs were traditionally thought to provide the leafy homes to a mysterious race of miniature forest people in ancient times (the Korpokkur). 

Like the closely related – but non-native – Japanese fuki (Petasites japonicus), arctic butterbur stalks can be used as an edible vegetable and medicinal plant but all butterburs require special preparation to remove toxic alkaloids.

Most unexpectedly, alpine butterbur produces strangely large flowerheads consisting of a heavy crown of compound blossoms atop a thick central stalk. These flowers dry down to create otherworldly fluffballs of seed, rather like an enormous dandelion. 

Approximately 200 seeds (0.5 grams).