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Caltha palustris
| Common name: |
Marsh Marigold |
Family: |
Ranunculaceae |
| Author: |
L. |
Botanical references: |
17, 200 |
| Synonyms: |
|
| Known Hazards: |
The whole plant, but especially the older portions, contains the toxic glycoside protoanemonin - this is destroyed by heat[172]. The sap can irritate sensitive skin[172]. |
| Range: |
Much of the northern Temperate zone in Europe, including Britain, N. America and Asia. |
| Habitat: |
Wet areas in marshes, fens, ditches and wet alder woods[17, 19]. Rare on very base poor peat[17]. |
| Edibility Rating (1-5): |
2 | Medicinal Rating (1-5): | 2 |
| Other Possible Synonyms: | From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below. |
| C. polypetala[G]
|
| Other Common Names: | From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below. |
| American Cowslip [H], Gewone Dotterbloem [D], Marigold,Marsh [E], Marsh Marigold [H,E], Marsh-Marigold [H], Marsh-marigold [L], Sunergisi [E], Yellow Marsh-marigold [B], Yellow Marshmarigold [P], |
| Epithets: | From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets |
|
palustris = in bogs
|
| Systematics: | From a USDA Plants Database |
|
Order: Ranunculales. Buttercup family
|
| Other Range Info: |
From the Ethnobotany Database |
|
Europe
Turkey Us
|
Physical Characteristics
Perennial growing to 0.3m by 0.3m . It is hardy to zone 3. It is in flower from March to July. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, beetles and flies.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
We rate it 2/5 for edibility and
2/5 for medicinal use.
The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil.
The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.
It requires wet soil and can grow in water.
Habitats and Possible Locations
Pond, Bog Garden, Ground Cover.Edible Uses
Flowers
Leaves Root.
Root - must be well cooked[183]. The raw root should not be eaten[K].
Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.
Flower buds - raw, cooked or pickled and used as a caper substitute[142,
183]. Eating the raw flower buds can lead to intoxication[222]. Some caution
is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.
Young leaves - raw or cooked[2, 46, 55, 62, 161]. The leaves are harvested
in the spring as the plant is coming into flower and is used like spinach
after cooking in two or more changes of water[2, 183]. Eating the raw leaves
can lead to intoxication[222]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above
on toxicity.
Older leaves, before the plant flowers, can be eaten if they are well
cooked[172]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.
Medicinal Uses
Disclaimer
Anodyne
Antirheumatic Antispasmodic Diaphoretic Diuretic Expectorant Irritant Rubefacient Warts.
Every part of this plant is strongly irritant and so it should be used
with caution[4].
The whole plant is anodyne, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, diuretic,
expectorant and rubefacient[21, 172]. It has been used to remove warts and is
also used in the treatment of fits and anaemia[4, 21, 172].
The root is antirheumatic, diaphoretic, emetic and expectorant[218, 222]. A
decoction is used in the treatment of colds[257]. A poultice of the boiled
and mashed roots has been applied to sores[257].
A tea made from the leaves is diuretic and laxative[222, 257].
All parts of the plant can irritate or blister the skin or mucous
membranes[222].
Other Uses
Dye
Ground cover.
A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[[100, 115], a saffron
substitute[142]. It is used as a dye when mixed with alum, though it is not
very permanent[4].
Plants can be grown for ground cover when planted about 45cm apart each
way[208].
Cultivation details
A plant of the waterside, it prefers growing in a sunny position in wet
soils or shallow water up to 15cm deep[1, 111, 233], though it will tolerate
drier conditions if there is shade from the summer sun[233]. Another report
says that it grows best in partial shade[17]. Requires a deep rich slightly
alkaline soil[31, 111]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a chalky
soil[31]. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.8 to 7.5.
A very ornamental[1] and polymorphic plant[17], there are some named
varieties[233]. Plants often self-sow when well sited[208].
A good bee plant[24].
A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially
legumes[54].
This species is probably the most primitive flower in the British flora[17].
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame in late
summer[200]. Stand the pots in 2 - 3cm of water to keep the soil wet. The
seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15° c[138]. When they are large
enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them
on in a tray of water in a cold frame until they are at least 15cm tall.
Plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer.
Division in early spring or autumn[200]. Very easy, larger clumps can be
replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up
smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well.
Plant them out in the summer or following spring.
Cultivars
- ''
- There are some named forms for this species, but these have been developed for their ornamental value and not for their other uses. Unless you particularly require the special characteristics of any of these cultivars, we would generally recommend that you grow the natural species for its useful properties. We have, therefore, not listed the cultivars in this database[K].
Suppliers
Plants For A Future is working with the following groups to try and make these plants easily available. Parts of the proceeds will be donated to so please mention us when ordering.
- Wildwood Nurseries
-
Lower Manor Cottage
Thornbury
Holsworthy
Devon
EX22 7DD
Email: lorna@macace.co.uk
Phone 01409 261324
Fax 01409 261324
Distribution: UK
How to order: Direct from Wildwood by email/phone
Last Updated: March 03
Item:
Caltha palustris
(marsh marigold)
For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.
Web References
- Details of Medicinal Uses, Habitats, etc. in M. Grieve A Modern Herbal (1931) [4]
- [H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
- [L] Scientific and Common Names (some photos)
from Lepidoptera and some other life forms
- [E] Ethnobotany Data
(common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
- [V] Images
from the Vascular Plant Image Gallery of the Texas A& M Bioinformatics Working Group.
- [B] Data
(Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
- [S] Illustration
from the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
- [G] Data
(Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
- [P] Data.
(uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
- [HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database
References for caltha palustris (a possible synonym).
References for the family Ranunculaceae.
See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.
Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.
[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
[4] Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
[19] Stary. F. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn 1983 ISBN 0-600-35666-3
Not very comprehensive, but easy reading.
[21] Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.
[24] Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.
Fairly good with lots of ideas about creating wildlife areas in the garden.
[31] Brown. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland.
[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
[54] Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd 1977 ISBN 0-584-10141-4
Interesting reading.
[55] Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health 1973
Interesting reading.
[62] Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982 ISBN 0442222009
Very readable.
[100] Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969 ISBN 0192176218
An excellent and well illustrated pocket guide for those with very large pockets. Also gives some details on plant uses.
[111] Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926
A fairly wide range of perennial plants that can be grown in Britain and how to grow them.
[115] Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.
Written about a hundred years ago, but still a very good guide to the useful plants of Britain.
[138] Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation.
[142] Brouk. B. Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press 1975 ISBN 0-12-136450-x
Readable but not very comprehensive.
[161] Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.
A comprehensive but very terse guide. Not for the casual reader.
[172] Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.
A nice guide to some useful plants in that area.
[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
[208] Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990 ISBN 0-460-12609-1
An excellent detailled book on the subject, very comprehensive.
[218] Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
[222] Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990 ISBN 0395467225
A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
[233] Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
[257] Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
Readers Comments
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Plant information taken from the
Plants For A Future -
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Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963 This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Caltha+palustris
This page (US) http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Caltha+palustris
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