RANUNCULACEAE CROWFOOT FAMILY 
MARSH MARIGOLD 
Caltha palustris L. 
The Marsh Marigold is a northern plant. It occurs from 
Newfoundland west to the Rocky mountains and south as far 
as Iowa and South Carolina. In this latitude it extends round 
the earth and in England is the 
“gowans” of song and story. In 
Illinois it is found in the north and 
central parts but not in the extreme 
south. 
This perennial grows in swamps 
and wet meadows and blooms from 
April to June. Where abundant, 
its showy yellow flowers make large 
areas brilliant. Its tender fleshy 
stems and leaves are often gathered 
in spring just as the plant is coming 
into flower, and cooked like Spinach. 
In some places where it is used for 
food in this manner, it is often erron- 
eously called Cowslip. 
The stout hollow stems are 
smooth and become 1-2 feet long. 
Usually they are clustered, and each 
branches and bears several flowers. 
The basal leaves have long broad 
petioles, whereas the upper leaves 
are short petioled or sessile. 
The flowers have no petals but 
the 5-9 sepals are yellow and petal- 
like. Stamens are numerous and 
pistils 5-10. The fruits are many-seeded follicles. 
Two varieties of this species, reported elsewhere in the 
United States as differing by having slenderer forms and smaller 
flowers, have not been distinguished in Illinois. 
There I go to meet the Springtime, 
When the meadow is aglow, 
Marigolds amid the marshes— 
And the stream is still and slow. 
The Path That Leads to Nowhere—CoRINNE ROOSEVELT ROBINSON 
109 
