RANUNCULACEAE 



CROWFOOT FAMILY 



MARSH MARIGOLD 



Caltlia 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 diflfering 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 Mo-Lihere — Corinne Roosevelt Robinson 



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