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Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris)
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Find out here.Marsh marigold fact file
- Description
- Biology
- Range
- Habitat
- Status
- Threats
- Conservation
- Find out more
- Glossary
- References
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Marsh marigold description
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Anthophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Ranunculales |
| Family | Ranunculaceae |
| Genus | Caltha |
Marsh marigold, also known as kingcup, is believed to be one of Britain’s most ancient native plants. It may have been growing here since before the last Ice Age and, after the retreat of the icecaps, it proliferated across the watery landscape. It is a spectacular-looking plant, with large rich yellow flowers, each with five petals, and shiny green, heart-shaped leaves borne on long, smooth hollow stems.
- Also known as
- kingcup.
- Size
- Stem length: up to 60 cm
- Perennial
- Plants that live for at least three seasons; after an initial period they produce flowers once a year.
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Related species
Marsh marigold biology
A perennial, marsh marigold is in flower from March to August, and is one of the first plants to appear. It has been long regarded as a herald of spring and in the Isle of Man it was the centre of a custom known as ‘bringing in the mayflower’. The flowers were scattered over doorsteps on the eve of May Day.
TopMarsh marigold range
This plant’s range can best be described as circumboreal, meaning ‘around the north’. Marsh marigold is found across most of the UK and Europe (although rare in Mediterranean regions), Northern Asia and large parts of North America.
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Species with a similar range
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You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway. |
Marsh marigold habitat
Marsh marigold is a plant of marshy meadows, wet flushes and ditches, from the lowlands to the uplands.
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Species found in a similar habitat
Marsh marigold status
Common in the UK
TopMarsh marigold threats
Although marsh marigold declined somewhat in the UK through drainage of land for farming during the 1970s, its distribution has changed little. The withdrawing of agricultural grants for draining wetland stabilised this decline, and there is no perceived threat to its survival as a native species.
TopMarsh marigold conservation
There are currently no conservation projects in place for marsh marigold.
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There may be further information about this species available via the National Biodiversity Network Gateway. |
Authentication
Information supplied by English Nature.
http://www.english-nature.org.uk
Glossary
References
More »Related species
This species is featured in:
This species is featured in the Wisconsin's Northwoods eco-region
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Marsh marigold mass in flower at water's edge
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