CORN MARIGOLD 135 



it is one of those cornfield plants which are not easily accessible to 

 insects, which cannot therefore cross-pollinate it. 



The achenes are dispersed by the wind, the fruit being ribbed and 

 winged, though in the case of ray florets they are not winged. 



Corn Marigold is more or less strictly a sand plant, growing on 

 sand soil. It is common on the sandy beds of the Lias, especially the 

 Marlstone Rockbed. 



The larva of Phytomyza affinis mines the leaves of this species and 

 of Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum. 



Chrysanthemum, Dioscorides, is from the Greek chrysos, gold, 

 anthos, flower, and the second Latin name refers to its cornfield 

 habitat. 



The plant goes by many different names: Bigold, Boodle, Boswell, 

 Yellow Bottle, Bothem, Bothen, Botherum, Bothul, Bozzom, Buddie, 

 Budland, Golden Corn-flower, Corn Marigold, Fat Hen, Geal Gowan 

 or Geal Seed, Gil Gowan, Gold, Yellow Gold, Golding, Goldings, 

 Marigold Goldings, Goles, Golland, Gool or Goold, Gouls, Gowan, 

 Gule or Yellow Gowan, Manelet, Marigold, Field or Wild Marigold, 

 Marigold Goldins, Moon or Moons, Ox-eye, Ruddes, Sunflower, 

 Tansy. 



As to the name Boodle a writer remarks : 



" The brake and the cockle be noisome too much, 

 Yet like unto Boodle no weed there is such ". 



In regard to Gool or Goold, the term gool-riding was applied to 

 the custom of riding through a parish to observe the growth of this 

 plant, and to fine the negligent farmer who allowed it to increase on 

 his land. 



" As yellow as a gowland " is a proverb in Yorkshire. 



ESSENTIAL SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: 



159. Chrysanthemum segetum, L. Stem erect, branched, glaucous, 

 glabrous, upper leaves clasping, dentate, oblong, lobed, flowerheads 

 yellow, phyllaries broad, with margin membranous. 



Corn-flower or Bluebottle (Centaurea Cyanus, L.) 



Though the more native Knapweed is only known from its present- 

 day distribution in Europe, West Siberia, N.W. India, being an 

 introduction in N. America, the Corn-flower is found in Neolithic beds 

 at Edinburgh with other weeds of cultivation and flax. In Great 

 Britain it is absent from Monmouth, Brecon, Radnor, Carmarthen, 



