Calendula officinalis

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Calendula officinalis
Orange C. officinalis at the UBC Botanical Garden
UBC Botanical Garden
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Calendula
Species:
C. officinalis
Binomial name
Calendula officinalis
Synonyms[1]
  • Calendula aurantiaca Kotschy ex Boiss.
  • Calendula eriocarpa DC.
  • Calendula hydruntina (Fiori) Lanza
  • Calendula prolifera Hort. ex Steud.
  • Calendula × santamariae Font Quer
  • Caltha officinalis (L.) Moench
Asian indoor breed of C. officinalis

Calendula officinalis, the pot marigold, common marigold, ruddles, Mary's gold or Scotch marigold,

temperate regions of the world.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

The Latin specific epithet officinalis refers to the plant's medicinal and herbal uses.[9]

Description

Calendula officinalis is a short-lived aromatic

hermaphroditic, and generally of a more intense orange-yellow colour than the female, tridentate, peripheral ray florets. The flowers may appear all year long where conditions are suitable. The fruit is a thorny curved achene[3][4] and weighing on average 10.1 mg (n=50).[citation needed
]

Calendulas are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including cabbage moth, gothic moth, large yellow underwing, and setaceous Hebrew character.

Cultivation

A double-flowered cultivar

Calendula officinalis is widely cultivated and can be grown easily in sunny locations in most kinds of soils. Although perennial, it is commonly treated as an annual, particularly in colder regions where its winter survival is poor, and in hot summer locations where it also does not survive.

Seeds of Calendula officinalis

Calendulas are considered by many gardening experts as among the easiest and most versatile flowers to grow in a garden, especially because they tolerate most soils. In temperate climates, seeds are sown in spring for blooms that last throughout the summer and well into the fall. In areas of limited winter freezing, seeds are sown in autumn for winter color. Plants will wither in subtropical summer. Seeds will germinate freely in sunny or half-sunny locations, but plants do best if planted in sunny locations with rich, well-drained soil. Pot marigolds typically bloom quickly from seed (in under two months) in bright yellows, golds, and oranges.

Leaves are spirally arranged, 5–18 cm (2–7 in) long, simple, and slightly hairy. The flower heads range from pastel yellow to deep orange, and are 3–7 cm (1+1⁄4–2+3⁄4 in) across, with both ray florets and disc florets. Most cultivars have a spicy aroma. It is recommended to deadhead (remove dying flower heads) the plants regularly to maintain even blossom production.

Cultivars

Numerous cultivars have been selected to showcase a wide range of variations, spanning from pale yellow to orange-red, and with 'double' or 'semi-double' flowerheads with ray florets replacing some or all of the disc florets. Examples include 'Alpha' (deep orange), 'Jane Harmony', 'Sun Glow' (bright yellow), 'Lemon' (pale yellow), 'Orange Prince' (orange), 'Indian Prince' (dark orange-red), 'Pink Surprise' (double, with inner florets darker than outer florets), 'Green-heart Gold' (double, bright yellow), 'Apricot Pygmy' (double light peach) and 'Chrysantha' (yellow, double). Additionally, the cultivar 'Variegata' boasts yellow

variegated leaves.[3]

The cultivar group 'Fiesta Gitana' has been honoured with the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[10][11]

Uses

Pot marigold florets are

potherb and salads. Additionally, the plant is utilized for tea-making purposes.[12]

Flowers were used in

medicinal herb, as well as a dye for fabrics, foods, and cosmetics.[5] Many of these uses persist today. They are also used to make oil that protects the skin.[citation needed
]

Marigold leaves can also be made into a poultice that is believed to help scratches and shallow cuts to heal faster, and to help prevent infection.[13] It has also been used in eye drops.[12]

Constituents

The petals and pollen of Calendula officinalis contain

beta-carotene.[citation needed] Plant extracts are also widely used in cosmetics, presumably due to presence of compounds such as saponins, resins, and essential oils.[14]

Moreover, the flowers of Calendula officinalis contain

flavonol glycosides, triterpene oligoglycosides, oleanane-type triterpene glycosides, saponins, and a sesquiterpene glucoside.[15][16]
Calendula flowers are a rich source of lutein, containing 29.8 mg/100g.[17]

Potential pharmacology

Plant pharmacological studies have suggested that Calendula extracts may have anti-viral, anti-

genotoxic, and anti-inflammatory properties in vitro.[18] In an in vitro assay, the methanol extract of C. officinalis exhibited antibacterial activity and both the methanol and the ethanol extracts showed antifungal activities.[19]

References

  1. ^ The Plant List, Calendula officinalis L.
  2. ^ "Calendula officinalis". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
  3. ^ a b c The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening 1: 462.
  4. ^ a b Interactive Flora of NW Europe: Calendula officinalis[permanent dead link]. eti.uva.nl
  5. ^ a b "Calendula officinalis – L." Plants For A Future. June 2004. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  6. ^ Flora of China, 金盏菊 jin zhan ju Calendula officinalis Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 921. 1753.
  7. ^ Flora of North America, Calendula officinalis Linnaeus
  8. ^ Altervista Flora Italiana, Calendola medicinale Calendula officinalis L.
  9. ISBN 978-1845337315
    .
  10. ^ "RHS Plantfinder - Calendula officinalis Fiesta Gitana Group". Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  11. ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 13. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  12. ^
    OCLC 560560606
    .
  13. PMID 26231862
    .
  14. ^ National Institutes of Health. "Calendula". Herbs and Supplements. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  15. PMID 17190444
    .
  16. PMID 11456093
    .
  17. ^ Manke Natchigal, A.; Oliveira Stringheta, A.C.; Corrêa Bertoldi, M.; Stringheta, P.C. (2012). "QUANTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF LUTEIN FROM TAGETES (TAGETES PATULA L.) AND CALENDULA (CALENDULA OFFICINALIS L.) FLOWERS". Acta Hortic. 939, 309–314. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  18. PMID 16677386
    .
  19. PMID 22789794
    .

Further reading

External links
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