description
Calendula officinalis, a member of the Asteraceae family. It is a short-lived
aromatic herbaceous perennial that can reach nearly 2 1/2 feet in height. The plant has branched lax or erect stems with oblong-lanceolate leaves that are roughly 2–7
inches in length, have hair on top and bottom, and with margins entire or occasionally waved
or weakly toothed.
The inflorescences are yellow, comprising a thick
capitulum or flowerhead 1 ½ to 2 ¾ inch in diameter. The flowerhead is surrounded by two rows of hairy
bracts. In the wild the plant often has a single ring of ray florets surrounding
the central disc florets. The disc florets are tubular and hermaphrodite,
and generally of a more intense orange-yellow color than the female,
tridentate, peripheral ray florets. The fruit is a thorny curved achene.
The plant may flower the full length of the year if conditions are suitable.
other common names for calendula & nomenclature
Marigold is from the late 14th century marygolde, which from Mary— most-likely in reference a reference to the Virgin + gold, for its color. The Old English name for the flower was simply golde.
Also known as:
pot marigold, english marigold, poet's marigold, husbandman's dial, marybud, merrybud, marygold, summer's bride, ruddles, common marigold, garden marigold, scottish marigold
