CALTHA PALUSTRIS. MAKSII-MARIGOLD. 



95 



fell ; an 1 where in this floral form, Atys, Cybele's favorite shep- 

 herd, found him while sitting near the fountain some time after- 

 wards. 



In our country, to which it is indigenous as well as to so many 

 portions of the old world, it has not attracted any marked atten- 

 tion, though Bigelow says bunches of them are brought among 

 the early wild flowers, and sold on the streets of Boston as " cow- 

 slips," A distinguished English author, noticing this statement, is 

 indignant that the name of the true poetical cowslip — or Primula 

 — should thus be trenched upon ; but there is little danger of our 

 Shakespearian friend suffering long by this local trespass of the 

 citizens of Boston, for " marsh-marigold " is becoming popular 

 everywhere. In some parts of England they go under the name 

 of " May-Blobs." It is said that the early spring leaves make 

 oood greens when cooked, and that the thick root-stocks vield a 

 good starch which is wholesome when boiled, but the raw leaves 

 are very acrid. No catde will touch them, and as they are 

 closely related to the Hellebores, may well partake of the dan- 

 gerous properties of that section of Ranunculaceous plants. 

 The buds have a particularly biting character, and it is said 

 have been used as a substitute for capers. 



The earlier botanists, in their description of Caltha, spoke of it 

 as having " calyx none," in distinction with Ranunculus, its ally, 

 which has a calyx. They regarded the colored parts as " petals " 

 only. Modern botanists say " petals none," as they prefer to 

 regard them as sepals, and a true calyx. If they were writing 

 of lilies they would call these floral envelopes merely a perianth, 

 for really these floral parts are as much calyx as corolla, or 

 rather both combined. The number of these parts varies from 

 four to ten, and judging from Ranunculus we may very well 

 believe that when the highest of these numbers is reached, five 

 stand for sepals, and five for petals, as in the true crow-foots. 

 In the whole of the Ranunadacece the stamens very readily 

 revert to petals, as in their earlier stages they arc believed to be 

 the same. 



