Calendula officinalis;
Record ID:25Naming |
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| Botanical Name: | Calendula officinalis; |
| Common Names: | Calendula; Chin-chang-hua; Garden Marigold; Marigolds; not related to african or Mexican marigolds; Pot marigold; |
| Key Name: | Calendula; |
| Parts Used: | Flowers, leaves, seeds |
| Sister Plants: | Tagetes erecta, Helianthus annuus, Calendula arvensis |
| Comments: | Annual or biennial herb attractive to pollinators; thrives in sunny, well-drained areas |
Characteristics |
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| Identifying Character: | COMPOSITAE; Annual or rarely biennial (up to 50 cm), branching angular stem, oblong to lanceolate leaves hairy on both surfaces (5-15 cm), large ray flowers solitary 1.5-4 in across, pale yellow to deep orange double-flowered (tubular florets absent), close at night, blooming March-October |
| Stem: | Branching, angular to 50 cm; |
| Leaves: |
oblong or lanceolate, hairy on both |
| Flowers: | large, ray; solitary;1 1/2-4 in across; pale yellow to deep orange double-flowered (tubular florets absent), close at night, blooming March-October |
| Fruit: | Small achenes, 1-2 mm, curved |
| Taste: | Bitter (leaves), mild (flowers) |
| Odour: | ild, herbaceous scent from flowers |
| Root: | Fibrous taproot |
| Image: |
Image URL: https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%2Fid%2FOIP.Hk68qoU_sZ9k0ruFGMY2SwHaE8%3Fpid%3DApi&f=1&ipt=1e6b0721f457ba58d2f6599c6e20a6d766e9ac09e7e19c89258e67aad27fde5c&ipo=images |
Distribution |
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| Distribution: | Mediterranean native; distributed throughout theworld as a garden plant. |
| Cultivation: | Tolerates any soil in full sun, although prefersloamy. Seed sown early to mid-spring. Generally self sown. Transplants easily; |
| Harvest: | Commercially the flowers and seed are harvested. Pick flower heads every 3 to 4 days depending on rateof flower developusnt. Flowers are harvested from just openthrough to till seeds begin to develop. The petals will begin toturn cylindrical and move in from the edge. Leave these for seedharvest. Seeds are harvested when dry. |
Medical |
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| Therapeutic Action: | Antiseptic,Cholagogue,Emmenagogue,Styptic,Vulinary |
| Medical Uses: |
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| Constituents: | Volatile oil; Calendulin; A yellow resin; Saponins; a Bitter principle; All of which aid bile secretion and promote wound healing; |
| Solvents: | Water, alcohol (tincture) |
| Dosage: | Infusion: 1 tsp dried flowers in hot water, 1-2 times daily; Tincture: 1-2 mL three times daily |
| Administration: | Internal: Infusion or tincture; External: Poultice or salve |
| Formulas: |
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| Contra Indications: | May cause allergic reactions; avoid during pregnancy; consult healthcare provider |
| Preparation: | Infusion: Steep 1 tsp dried flowers in hot water 10 min; Poultice: Crush fresh flowers |
| Chinese: | Obstinate bleeding piles; |
| Veterinary: | Used for wound healing or skin irritations in livestock |
| Homeopathic: | No known homeopathic use documented |
Pollination and Pollinators |
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| Apis: | Yes |
| Pollinator: | |
| Pollen: | Yes |
| Pollen Notes: | Pollen attracts bees, some self-pollination |
| Nectar: | Yes |
| Nectar Notes: | Nectar-rich, attracts bees, butterflies, beneficial insects' |
Other |
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| Non-Medical Uses: | Yellow dye.; CULINARY: Substitutes for Saffron; May be added to Salads and Omelettes or used to cn; May be added to Salads and Omelettes or used to colour Cheese and Butter; Young leaves added to Salads. Petals used for Tea; COSMETIC: Skin; Hair rinse; |
| Culinary Uses: | |
| History: | This well-known garden plant is probably one of the most useful of all herbs. Valuable as food, medicine, dye, and cosmetics. Known to India, arabic culture then to Grease. In use in europe ever since it arrived in Grease The botanical name comes form the Latin calendula or calends meaning 'throughout the months. Flowers from spring till late fall. |
| Reference: | 1,3,8,25,37 |
| URL: | https://usbm.ca/ency |
| Share: | Public |