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Ranunculaceae
Caltha

Caltha palustris Linnaeus var. palustris. Common name: Marsh Marigold, Cowslip, Meadow Gowan, Buttercup, Kingcup, Cowflock. Phenology: Apr-Jun. Habitat: Bogs, wet meadows, seepage swamps, brookbanks. Distribution: Caltha palustris is circumboreal, widespread in n. Eurasia and n. North America, south in e. North America to e. VA, w. NC, ne. TN, WV, IN, IL, IA, and NE.

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: Caltha palustris is polymorphic; one or more additional varieties (some of them sometimes recognized as separate species) are more northern. Eastern North American material is apparently uniformly 2n=32 (Keener 1977).

Synonymy ⓘ: = K4, NS; < Caltha palustris L. — C, Can, F, FNA3, GrPl, Il, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Va, W; > Caltha palustris L. var. flabellifolia (Pursh) Torr. & A.Gray; ? Caltha palustris L. var. palustris — G, GW2; < Caltha palustris L. var. palustris — POWO. Basionym: Caltha palustris L. 1753

Links to other floras: < Caltha palustris - FNA3

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL (name change)
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL (name change)
  • Great Plains: OBL (name change)
  • Midwest: OBL (name change)
  • Northcentral & Northeast: OBL (name change)

Heliophily ⓘ: 7

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image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Steven Daniel, all rights reserved, uploaded by Steven Daniel source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Caltha palustris, Schoolyard Springs Preserve, The Nature Conservancy, Shady Valley, Johnson County, Tennessee 2 by Alan Cressler source
image of plant© Erin Haase, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Erin Haase source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Nate Hartley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Nate Hartley source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alex Graeff, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by Alex Graeff source CC-BY-NC-ND, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alex Graeff, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by Alex Graeff source CC-BY-NC-ND, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Caltha palustris, Schoolyard Springs Preserve, The Nature Conservancy, Shady Valley, Johnson County, Tennessee 1 by Alan Cressler source
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alaina Krakowiak, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alaina Krakowiak source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Mound-growing, somewhat succulent perennial found in bogs, wet meadows, seepage swamps and on brook banks.

Stems: Stems erect to reclining, branching above, fleshy, hollow and smooth.

Leaves: Leaves mostly basal, long-petiolate, kidney-shaped and notched at base, 1-5 in. long, glossy, with deep, narrow sinuses and toothed margins.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers in clusters of 1-3 at branch ends, rising above leaves; bright yellow, ½-1½ in. wide, consisting of 5 or 6 petal-like, glossy, veiny sepals surrounding a central cluster of bushy yellow stamens and a compound ovary.

Fruits: Fruit a cluster of flattened-oval follicles with tiny beaks.

Comments:

Height: 8-24 in.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Mound-growing, somewhat succulent perennial found in bogs, wet meadows, seepage swamps and on brook banks.

stems: Stems erect to reclining, branching above, fleshy, hollow and smooth.

leaves: Leaves mostly basal, long-petiolate, kidney-shaped and notched at base, 1-5 in. long, glossy, with deep, narrow sinuses and toothed margins.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers in clusters of 1-3 at branch ends, rising above leaves; bright yellow, ½-1½ in. wide, consisting of 5 or 6 petal-like, glossy, veiny sepals surrounding a central cluster of bushy yellow stamens and a compound ovary.

fruits: Fruit a cluster of flattened-oval follicles with tiny beaks.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range:



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