365Caws is now in its 14th year of publication, and was originally intended to end after 365 days. It has sometimes been difficult for me to find new material, particularly during the winter months, but now as I enter my own twilight years, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to provide daily posts. It is my hope that along the way I may have inspired someone to a greater curiosity about the natural world. If so, I can rest, content in the knowledge that my work here has been done.
Monday, July 25, 2022
Marsh Marigold, Caltha Leptosepala
Day 285: The plant shown in this image provides a classic example of why I dislike common names. It is not even in the same family as garden marigolds (Asteraceae), so why is it called "Marsh Marigold?" Caltha leptosepala belongs to the family Ranunculaceae, alongside buttercups, anemones and hellebores, among others. Its Latin designation "leptosepala" refers to its narrow sepals, that portion of the flower which encloses the emerging bud and serves as protection for it. In a diagram of the parts of a flower, the sepals form the first whorl and are usually green or greenish. Here, the Latin epithet provides a useful clue to identifying the plant in the field, whereas the most frequently used common name would lead you thoroughly astray. But all is not lost. It's also known as "Elkslip" which, if you think about it, makes more sense.
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