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.

Marsh Marigold, Caltha Leptosepala

Day 237: At least its Latin binomial hasn't changed recently, but if ever there was a confusing common name, "Marsh Marigold" should be somewhere near the top of the list. Most English-speaking people think of marigolds in terms of the orange-yellow-brown pompoms along our garden borders. In fact, those belong to another genus entirely: Tagetes. Worse, they are in a different family (Asteraceae) than Caltha leptosepala (Ranunculaceae). The leaves of our bedding marigold are finely divided (pinnate) and look lacy, quite unlike the somewhat leathery, kidney-shaped foliage of the plant featured above. So how in bloody blue blazes did Caltha leptosepala come to be known as Marsh Marigold? Blame religion. I've backed up the commonly accepted version of word-lore with reliable etymological references because it caused my eyebrows to raise in doubt, but it's apparently true. The word "marigold" derives from "Mary's gold" and refers to the bouquets of early-emerging yellow flowers which were used to give tribute to the purported mother of Christ. Any yellow flower placed in her shrine was called "Mary's gold," i.e., "marigold." There are several yellow Calthas, and the word was applied to them as well since their flowers also emerge early, making them a good candidate for reverential use (and never mind the lack of a scientific base). Does the plant have a better common name? "Elkslip" is not often heard here in the Pacific Northwest, but I think I may have to work on popularizing it. That said, another thought has crossed my mind: maybe I can claim that all those yellow "lawn-daisies" in my front yard are marigolds. Surely somebody laid a nosegay of dandelions at Mary's feet some time in the past?

Marsh Marigolds

Day 260: I will make no attempt to justify the common name "Marsh Marigold" as it applies to Caltha leptosepala, but one source suggests that "marigold" derives from the expression "mare's-galls" and refers to the gall-like shape of the buds. That said, the plant is not even remotely akin to garden marigolds (Tagetes). It doesn't even belong to the same taxonomic family (Tagetes is in Asteraceae, Caltha in Ranunculaceae). "Marsh" is accurate; it is a denizen of wet pockets and seeps in the subalpine areas of the Pacific Northwest. The newly emerging buds exhibit brownish-pink petals on the exterior, a colour which persists on the adult flower, although this tinting is not readily apparent in a top view. To me, Marsh Marigolds are one of the species most evocative of mountain meadows, moreso even than Western Anemones or Avalanche Lilies, and perhaps rivalled in my mental accounting only by Bog Gentian. They always make me smile.