MARSH MARIGOLD                    YELLOW

Caltha palustris                          April-June

Crowfoot Family

Flower:  1-1.5” wide

Plant:  1-2’ high

    A clump of shiny yellow flowers, which resemble large Buttercups, grow on this plant of early spring.  The flowers lack petals, have 5-9 petal-like sepals, and numerous stamens and pistils of a darker yellow.  Leaves are heart-shaped, waxy and very glossy.  The basal ones, 2-7” wide, are dark green, stalked and slightly toothed or notched; the upper ones are stalkless.   The stem of the plant is thick, hollow and branching.

 

    Also called Cowslip, this plant is common in moist places such as swamps, wet meadows and along streams and brooks.  The young leaves may be eaten but must be thoroughly boiled in several changes of water.

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