Re: Calendula common names
- Subject: Re: Calendula common names
- From: D* W*
- Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 23:20:24 -0700
We have always called it just "marigold", and I suspect, though I've
never seen it written anywhere, that that is what it was called in
Europe until Tagetes arrived from Mexico. I think that the "pot" was
added at that time to distinguish the two plants, though it would
have made more sense to distinguish Tagetes with a name like Mexican
Marigold.
It sounds pretty silly to say that Calendula officinalis was called
pot marigold because it was grown in pots. Why would that ever have
been done for such an easy plant? It seeds itself all around and
blooms all year long. No care needed at all. Things like auriculas
that had to be kept out of the rain so the farina wouldn't wash off
and lemon trees that had to come in for the winter were grown in pots.
Cornucopia II, a Sourcebook of Edible Plants says dried petals are
used to season soups, puddings, cakes and cookies and for colouring
butter and cheese. It is sometimes used as an adulterant of saffron.
Calendula arvensis, (kinsen-ka, souci des champs) - the young shoots
and leaves are boiled and eaten, flower heads are pickled, and
Bedouins use the leaves as a condiment for clarified butter (samin).
Diane Whitehead Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
maritime zone 8, cool mediterranean climate
