Marigold (Calendula)
(Calendula officinalis L., Compositae)
Also Called: Calendula, Garden Marigold, Pot Marigold.
Description: The petals have a pungent, spicy flavour and
the leaves have a bitter aftertaste. It is used more for medicinal than culinary
purposes. This hardy annual grows to a height of about 9-20 inches and has
a long flowering period.
Annual, rarely biennial plant with stiff branching stem.
Lower leaves spathulate, upper ones more lanceolate or elliptical, 5-12cm
(2-4.5 in) long, more or less hairy on both surfaces,
Capitula large, 3-5cm (1-2 in) in diameter; central florets are tubular and
surrounded by several rows of ligulate florets; at times all the florets are
ligulate, the tubular florets being absent ('double' flowers).
Flowers are pale yellow, dark yellow or orange.
Flowering: June-September.
Parts Used: Florets freed from the green involucral bracts, or the entire flowerheads, rarely the flowering plant.
Habitat and Cultivation:Cultivated worldwide, these bright
yellow and orange flowers are a familiar sight in cottage and country gardens.
The plant is a native of southern Europe but flourishes in cool, temperate
climates.
Not now found wild, often cultivated as a garden plant.
The 'double' form is cultivated for medicinal purposes by sowing seeds in
rows 30cm (1 ft) apart.
The capitula are collected when fully open: they aie dried in the shade at
less than 35 C (95 F).
Constituents and Action: Small amount of volatile oil, resin,
a bitter principle and saponins.
Their action is not as yet fully understood; they aid bile secretion.
The action on menstruation is doubtful. Facilitates healing. of wounds.
Mild burns, sunburn, mouth infections, sore throat, wounds. Extracts may
be beneficial in treating duodenal ulcers.
Calendula heals wounds as well as internal and external ulcers. It is an antiseptic,
and improves blood flow to the affected area. As an antifungal agent, it can
be used to treat athlete's foot, ringworm, and candida. The tincture applied
neat to cold sores encourages healing .
Calendula cream is good for acne and diaper rash. An infusion is good for
digestion and relieves colitis and symptoms of menopause.
Forms available: Tea (for gargle, mouthwash or internal use), ointments, creams, spray, tinctures, extracts.
Usage: Internally as a tisane (infuse 1-2 tea-spoonfuls
of drug with 0 5 litre (1 pt) of cold water) for jaundice to increase bile
flow and to assist periods.
Externally the tisane or the tincture (1 tablespoonful of tincture in a cup
of water) is used as an application to wounds.
Caution: Persons allergic to the pollen of other members of the aster family, such as ragweed, may be allergic to calendula.
Culinary Uses: The petals, with their slight aromatic bitterness are used in fish and meat soups, rice dishes, salads, and as a colouring for cheese and butter. The whole flower was used as a garnish in medieval times.
Other Uses: An infusion of the petals can be used as a rinse to lighten and brighten hair. The petals also make a nourishing cream for the skin. Pot marigold makes an attractive cut flower and can be grown in the vegetable garden to help with insect control.
Creamy Marigold Cleanser
4 tablespoons olive or almond oil
2 tablespoons dried pot marigold flowers
few drops of violet, orange blossom or rose water
Warm the oil in a bowl placed over a saucepan of hot water. Stir in the dried
flowers and continue to heat gently for 30 minutes. Remove from heat, allow
to cool, and stir in the flower water.
Marigold Wine
2 quarts marigolds (use Calendula officinalis only)
1 gallon boiling water
1 campden tablet, crushed (sterilizer)
thinly pared peel and juice of 3 tangerines or other soft citrus fruit
thinly pared peel and juice of 1 lemon
5½ cups sugar
1¼ cups white raisins, finely chopped
wine yeast
yeast nutrient
Wash the flowers and put into a large container. Add the boiling water and
stir in the Campden tablet. Leave for 24 hours.
Draw off 1 cup of the liquid, add citrus peel and heat to just on the point
of boiling. Add the sugar, stirring until dissolved. Cool to body temperature,
then pour back into the original container. Add raisins, citrus juice, yeast,
and nutrient. Cover and leave 5 days to ferment, stirring twice each day.
Strain through a double thickness of muslin. Pour into a fermenting jar fitted
with a fermentation lock and leave to continue fermenting. Rack the wine as
it begins to clear.
When completely clear, store in a cool, dark, dry place for six months to
mature.
Cultivation: Seeds may be sown directly in the bed, border, or flower box throughout spring and summer. The plant prefers a rich, light soil and a sunny location. Add compost to the soil if necessary, then sidedress with additional compost when the plants are well extablished. Water deeply during dry spells. It will seed itself readily.
