Marsh Marigold, Caltha palustris

Common Name: Marsh Marigold

Caltha palustris, more commonly known as Marsh Marigold or Kingcup, is most often found in soggy, ground such as wet woodland, ditches, stream margins, ponds, bogs and marshes.

It is a perennial plant with striking, shiny golden flowers (10-50mm across) from April to July, each flower comprised of 5 – 9 oval sepals, there being no petals and at the centre of each are numerous stamens crowded together. The flowers are held in loose, clusters on stout, hollow stems which also bear deep green, kidney shaped, fleshy leaves which increase in size after the plant has flowered.

This is a native plant, widespread in the UK, and it belongs to the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. It is poisonous if ingested in large amounts.

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