Caltha palustris. Mars h-M a r i g o l d. 



CALTHA Linnal Gen. PL Polyandria Polygynia Cal. o. Petala quinque. Nedarla o. Capful* plures 



polyfpermas. 



Rail Syn. Herb^e MULTISILIQUj£ seu corniculatje. 



CALTHA paluftris. Llnnai Syfl. Vegetab. p. 432. Flor. Sueclc. 198. 



CALTHA Bailer, hifl. heh. p. 32. n. 11 88. 



POPULAGO palujlris. Scopoll Fl. Camiol p. 404. 



CALTHA paluftris flore fimplici. Bauhln pin 276, 



POPULAGO. Tournefort. Tabernamont. 



CALTHA paluftris vulgaris fimplex. Parkinfon 1213, 



CALTHA paluftris major. Gerard, emac. 817. 



Rail Syn.2ji. Marfh Marigold. Hudfon FL Angl. p. 214. 



RADIX perennis, e plurimis fibris, teretibus, majufcu- i 



lis, albiqlis, conftans, | 



CAULES ex eadem radice nafcuntur plures, fubere£ti, f 



pedaies, fiftulofi, pene teretes, glabri, ramofi, | 



ad bafin purpurei. £ 



FOLIA radicalia petiolata, cordato-reniformia, glabra, f 



crenata, caulina fubfeffilia, ad apicem acutiora, I 



et acute crenata. %. 



STIPULE fufcae, membranaceae,- marcefcentes. 



RAMI dichotomi. 



PEDUN.CULI uniflorl, eredi, fulcati. 



% 



CALYX nullus. 



COROLLA : Petala plerumque quinque, flava, mag- | 

 na, fubrotundo-ovata, plana, patentia, -fuperne | 

 non fplendentia, fig. 1 . $ 



STAMINA: Fil amenta numerofa, filiformia, Corolla £ 

 breviora, Antherje oblongae, compreflie, in- $ 

 curvatae, flavae, fig. 2. I 



PISTILLUM : Germina quinque ad decern, oblonga, & 

 compreffa, erecta ; Styli nulli ; Stigmata | 

 fimplicia, jig. 3. ^ 



PERICARPIUM: Capsule totidem, acuminata, pa- t 

 tentes, futura fuperiore dehifcentes, fig. 4. | 



SEMINA plurima, fubovata, pulchra, inferne olivacea, | 

 fuperne rafa, fig* 5. $ 



ROOT perennial, connfting of numerous, round, large, 

 white fibres. 



STALKS : feveral arife from the fame root, almoft up- 

 right, about a foot high, hollow, nearly round, 

 fmooth, branched, and purple at bottom. 



LEAVES : the radical leaves placed on long foot ftalks, 

 betwixt an heart and kidney ihape, fmooth, 

 mining, and notched or crenated ; the leaves 

 of the stalk nearly feffile, more pointed at 

 top, and fharply crenated. 



STIPULiE brown, membranous and withered. 



BRANCHES dichotomous. 



PEDUNCLES fupporting one nqwer, upright, and 

 grooved. 



CALYX wanting. 



COROLLA generally connfts of five large Petals 

 of a roundifh oval fhape and yellow colour, 

 flat, fpreading, and without anyglofs on the 

 upper fide, fig, 1. 



STAMINA : Filaments numerous, filiform, fhorter 

 than the Corolla ; Anthers oblong, flat, bend- 

 ing inward, and of a yellow colour, fig. 2. 



PISTILLUM : Germina from five to ten, oblong, 

 flattifh, and upright ; Styles none; Stigma- 

 ta fimple, j%. 3. 



SEED-VESSEL: fo many Capsules as Germina, 

 pointed, and fpreading, opening at the fuperior 

 future, fig. 4. 



SEEDS numerous, fomewhat oval, beautiful!, at bot- 

 tom of an olive, and at top of a reddiih colour. 



Linnjeus informs us that the Caltha is the firft flower which proclaims the Spring in Lapland, and that it begins 

 to blow about the end of May, with us it ufually flowers in March and April, and laft Spring, 1775, this plant 

 was found in Bloflbm in the month of February, fo remarkably forward was the Spring of that year. 



It grows in wet Meadows and by the fides of Rivers, where it makes a very noble appearance, and when dou- 

 ble, is often cultivated in Gardens, where it will grow very readily if the foil be favourable. 



In the Country, Children collect, it to ornament their Garlands on May day. 



I fcarce ever obferved the leaves to be eaten by any animals, but the flowers are often deftroyed by a fpecies 

 of Chrysomela. 



Haller fays that it is acrid and cauftic and yet that it is eaten by Cows, 



The flower Buds are pickled and ufed as Capers. 



