MARIGOLD  . This name has been given to several

plants, of which the following are the best known: Calendula officinalis, the pot-marigold; Tagetes- erecta, the African marigold; T. patula, the French marigold; and Chrysanthemum segetum, the corn marigold . All these belong to the order Compositae; but Caltha palustris, the marsh marigold, belongs to the order Ranunculaceae . The first-mentioned is the familiar garden plant with large orange-coloured blossoms, and is probably not known in a wild state . There are now many fine garden varieties of it . The florets are unisexual, the " ray " florets being female, the " disk " florets male . This and the double variety have been in cultivation for at least three hundred years, as well as a proliferous form, C. prolifera, or the " fruitful marigolde " of Gerard (Herball, p . 602), in which small flower-heads proceed from beneath the circumference of the flower . The figure of " the greatest double marigold," C. multiflora maxima, given by Gerard (loc. cit. p . 600) is larger than most specimens now seen, being 3 in. in diameter . He remarks of " the marigolde " that it is called Calendula " as it is to be seene to flower in the calends of almost euerie moneth." It was supposed to have several specific virtues, but they are non-existent . " The marigold, that goes to bed wi' the sun," is mentioned by Shakespeare, Winter's Tale, iv .

3 . Tagetes patula, and T. erecta, the French and African marigolds, are natives of

Mexico, and are equally familiar garden plants, having been long in cultivation . Gerard figures five varieties of Flos africanus, of the single and double kind (loc. cit., p . 609) . Besides the above species the following have been introduced later, T. lucida, T. signata, also from Mexico, and T. tenuifolia from Peru . Chrysanthemum segetum, the yellow corn marigold, is indigenous to Great Britain, and is frequent in corn-fields in most parts of England . When dried it has been employed as hay . It is also used in Germany for dyeing yellow . Gerard observes that in his day " the stalke and leaues of Corne Marigolde, as Dioscorides saith, are eaten as other potherbes are." Caltha palustris, the marsh marigold, or king-cups, the " winking Mary-buds " of Shakespeare (Cymb., ii . 3), is a common British plant in marshy meadows and beside water . It bears smooth heart-shaped leaves, and flowers with a golden yellow calyx but no corolla, blossoming in March and April . The flower-buds preserved in salted vinegar are a good substitute for capers .

A double-flowered variety is often cultivated, and is occasionally found wild .