Marygold

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Scotch marigold
• garden marigold
• pot marigold
• Scotch-marigold
• Scottish-marigold
• calendula
• garden-marigold
• marigold
• pot-marigold
• ruddles

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Calendula officinalis f. pleniflora
• Calendula ranunculodes
• Calendula sinuata
• Calendula sinuata var. aurantiaca
• Caltha officinalis
• Calendula officinalis var. prolifera
• Calendula santamariae
• Calendula aurantiaca
• Calendula eriocarpa
• Calendula hydruntina
• Calendula officinalis var. parviflora
• Calendula prolifera

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Calendula officinalis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is further classified under the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. Finally, its taxonomic hierarchy concludes with the genus Calendula.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across several regions within the European continent. In Northern Europe, its distribution is notably evident in Great Britain and Ireland. It can also be found spreading through the Scandinavian landscapes of Norway and Sweden. Moving toward the center of the continent, the species is documented in Middle Europe. Specifically, the plant maintains a stable presence within the borders of Austria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Calendula officinalis is characterized by its broad adaptability to various landscapes, thriving across a vast altitudinal gradient that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends to high-altitude environments reaching up to 2800 m AMSL. This species frequently colonizes disturbed areas and anthropogenic landscapes, often found growing along roadsides where sunlight is abundant and soil competition may be lower. In terms of its underground symbiotic relationships, the plant does not rely on mycorrhizal associations, as indicated by the absence of mycorrhiza in its typical growth pattern.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

roadsides

Mycorrhiza :

no

Life history

The life history of Calendula officinalis is characterized by its status as an annual plant, completing its entire reproductive cycle within a single growing season. Functioning as a therophyte, the species survives through seeds, avoiding the need to maintain perennial above-ground structures during unfavorable conditions. As a deciduous species, it sheds its foliage as it reaches the end of its seasonal cycle, focusing its energy on seed production before the plant dies back. This therophytic life form allows it to thrive in disturbed or open habitats where it can rapidly establish itself from seed, grow, bloom, and disperse its progeny before the onset of dormancy or seasonal changes.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Calendula officinalis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, and it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. The plant is self-supporting, lacking any climbing habits such as being a vine or liana. Its shoot orientation is primarily ascending, supporting a structural build that varies in height; it typically reaches a minimum height of 0.15 m, with a mean height of approximately 0.38 m, and can attain a maximum height of up to 0.75 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.75 m

Plant height mean:

0.383333333333333 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Calendula officinalis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy and does not possess the capacity for nitrogen fixation, relying instead on soil-available nutrients. Its vegetative structure is defined by an alternate leaf arrangement, featuring elliptic-shaped leaves that vary in size to optimize light interception. Specifically, the leaves typically maintain a mean length of 10 cm, ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 15 cm, while the width fluctuates between a minimum of 1 cm and a maximum of 3 cm, with a mean width of approximately 2 cm.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

10 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width mean:

2 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Calendula officinalis is primarily a sexual process, characterized by bisexual flowers that facilitate genetic diversity. The flowering period is quite extensive, typically beginning in January and continuing through September, though it can be variable depending on environmental conditions. These vibrant orange flowers vary in size, with a length ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 cm and a width between 4 and 5.5 cm. The pollination syndrome is biotic, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen, as self-fertilization is notably absent. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fruit in the form of an achene. These fruits are indehiscent and possess a mean length of approximately 0.6 cm. Each fruit is prolific, containing a high seed count ranging from 101 to 1000 seeds. The individual seeds exhibit a mean mass of approximately 0.0044 g, with values ranging from a minimum of 0.0022 g to a maximum of 0.01632 g. Dispersal of the seeds occurs through multiple mechanisms, including anemochorous (wind) and anthropochorous (human-mediated) syndromes. Asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

orange

Flower length max:

2.5 cm

Flower length min:

1.5 cm

Flower width max:

5.5 cm

Flower width min:

4 cm

Flowering time :

Jan

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit length mean:

0.6 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.01632 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00444426666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.0022 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Calendula officinalis has 5 reported plant parts identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, root, leaf, rhizome, seed.

Flower

1. Planta medica
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
4. Acta physiologica et pharmacologica Bulgarica
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Root

1. Preparative biochemistry & biotechnology
2. Farmakologiia i toksikologiia
3. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica
4. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry

Leaf

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Rhizome

1. Farmakologiia i toksikologiia

Seed

1. The Journal of biological chemistry

Chemicals

Calendula officinalis has 145 reported phytochemicals identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Saponins, RUTIN, CHLOROGENIC ACID, Carotenoids.

Flavonoids

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biological research
3. Open life sciences
4. Preparative biochemistry & biotechnology
5. Biomedical materials (Bristol, England)

Saponins

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Open life sciences
3. Biomedical materials (Bristol, England)
4. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

RUTIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of chromatographic science
3. Heliyon

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of chromatographic science

Carotenoids

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Glycosides

1. Biomedical materials (Bristol, England)
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Lupeol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

SAPONIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society

Tannins

1. International journal of food science
2. Biomedical materials (Bristol, England)

Taraxasterol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

Activities

Calendula officinalis has 475 reported activities identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Antiinflammatory, Cytotoxic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Dentistry journal
3. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
4. International journal of food science
5. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports
3. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
4. Heliyon

Antimicrobial

1. Dentistry journal
2. International journal of food science
3. Medicinski glasnik : official publication of the Medical Association of Zenica-Doboj Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina
4. Inflammopharmacology

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
3. Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant disease
3. Journal of natural products

Antimelanogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Photochemistry and photobiology

Antiseptic

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Reviews on recent clinical trials

Gastroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Hypoglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Conditions

Calendula officinalis has 49 reported investigations on conditions identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include wound healing, wounds, antioxidant, atherosclerosis, colon cancer.

Wound healing

1. Biomedical materials (Bristol, England)
2. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Inflammopharmacology
5. International journal of molecular sciences

Wounds

1. Infectious disorders drug targets
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. International journal of food science
2. Engineering in life sciences

Atherosclerosis

1. Recent patents on cardiovascular drug discovery
2. Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine

Colon cancer

1. Journal of natural products
2. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

Inflammation

1. Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine
2. Journal of natural products

Melanoma

1. Photochemistry and photobiology
2. Journal of natural products

Oxidative stress

1. BioMed research international
2. Pharmacology

Radiodermatitis

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Skin cancer

1. Integrative cancer therapies
2. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Preparations

Calendula officinalis has 28 reported preparations identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include hydroalcoholic extract, 1-butanol-soluble fraction, 5% unguentum containing fractions C1 and C5, Gurgem-7, Hexane and ethanolic extracts.

Hydroalcoholic extract

1. BioMed research international
2. Saudi journal of gastroenterology : official journal of the Saudi Gastroenterology Association
3. Ancient science of life

1-butanol-soluble fraction

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

5% unguentum containing fractions c1 and c5

1. Acta physiologica et pharmacologica Bulgarica

Gurgem-7

1. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

Hexane and ethanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous extracts

1. International journal of food science

Aqueous infusions

1. Food technology and biotechnology

Aqueous solutions of ethanolic tinctures

1. Biology

Ethanol 70%

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Extract

1. Revista cubana de medicina tropical