In response, the German government banned the sale of coltsfoot. Sometimes it is confused with "Petasites frigidus", or western coltsfoot. "Puccinia poarum" may be confused with a different rust on "T. farfara" (coltsfoot), Coleosporium tussilaginis. Clonal plants of coltsfoot free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids were then developed in Austria and Germany. The arms show three yellow coltsfoot flowers on a green background. Puccinia poarum, the coltsfoot gall rust or meadow grass rust, is a plant pathogen. In early spring, dandelion and coltsfoot are important groundhog food items. Coltsfoot is a perennial herbaceous plant that spreads by seeds and rhizomes. Coltsfoot is particularly common and sand martin colonies have become established in places.