Marigold

The marigolds, genus Calendula L., are a genus of about 20 species of annual or perennial herbaceous plants in the daisy family Asteraceae, native to Mexico and Central America, the Mediterranean region and Macaronesia. more...

The leaves of this plant are 5-18 cm long, simple, and usually roughly hairy. The flower heads range from pale yellow to deep orange, and are 3-7 cm across, with both ray florets and disc florets.

The petals of the Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis) are spicy and are edible, added to dishes as a garnish.

Marigolds are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Cabbage Moth, The Gothic, Large Yellow Underwing and Setaceous Hebrew Character.

The ointment of this herb is thought to cure a range of skin problems from burns to acne.

A myth describing which seems to be creation of the marigold is mentioned in the story of Clytie and Apollo, although it is usually referred to as the sunflower or heliotrope.

Species

• Calendula aegyptiaca
• Calendula aestivalis
• Calendula alata
• Calendula algeriensis
• Calendula americana
• Calendula anemoneflora
• Calendula arvensis : Field Marigold
• Calendula aurea
• Calendula balansae
• Calendula boissieri
• Calendula cariensis
• Calendula chrysantha
• Calendula decumbens
• Calendula denticulata

• Calendula eckerleinii
• Calendula eriocarpa
• Calendula exilis
• Calendula foliosa
• Calendula glauca
• Calendula grandiflora
• Calendula gussonii
• Calendula incanescens
• Calendula karakalensis
• Calendula kerkerana
• Calendula lanzae
• Calendula linifolia
• Calendula maderensis : Madeiran Marigold
• Calendula malvaecarpa
• Calendula maritima
• Calendula maroccana
• Calendula meuselii
• Calendula microphyla
• Calendula monardi
• Calendula montserratensis
• Calendula murbeckii
• Calendula officinalis : Pot Marigold
  • Calendula officinalis var. parviflora
  • Calendula officinalis f. pleniflora
• Calendula pachysperma
• Calendula palestina
• Calendula persica
• Calendula × santamariae

• Calendula sinuata
• Calendula stellata
• Calendula subinermis
• Calendula suffruticosa
  • Calendula suffruticosa subsp. carbonellii
  • Calendula suffruticosa subsp. greuteri
  • Calendula suffruticosa subsp. tlemcensis
• Calendula thapsiaecarpa
• Calendula tripterocarpa
• Calendula tunetana
• Calendula vidali

• Tagetes erecta : Aztec Marigold, Cempasúchil
• Tagetes patula : French Marigold

Plants in the related genus Tagetes are also often called Mexican marigolds, African marigolds or French marigolds. Marsh marigold is the herb Caltha palustris of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae).

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