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Misty Meadows ~  Herb of the Month

July

Calendula
Calendula officinale

 

                                                                          

 

 

 

 

 

 

Botanical Source.—Calendula officinalis has a fibrous, annual root, with a stem about a foot high, having many patent, dichotomous, or sometimes trichotomous branches, which are striated, green, succulent, and hispido-pubescent. The leaves are alternate, oblong, acute, mucronate, sessile, somewhat succulent, broad, a little cordate at the base, the margins quite entire, often scabrous-ciliate. The flower-heads are large, terminal, solitary upon each branch, of a rich, full, golden yellow, deeper and brighter previous to their full expansion. The involucre consists of many nearly equal, appressed, linear-subulate, pilose-hispid leaves or scales, not one-third as long as the radiant florets, the apices a little recurved. Achenia carinate, muricate, incurved. Corollas of the ray ligulate, female tridentate, broadly linear, lower tubular portion hairy; ovary singularly boat-shaped, curved like a horse-shoe, large, green, downy within, having a thickened margin, more or less tuberculated on the back. The florets of the center are all tubular, small, male, and consequently sterile; mouth 5-cleft, base hairy. The abortive ovaries are cylindrical, downy, and green. Receptacle dotted (L.—W.).

History.—Calendula is a native of South Europe and the Orient. It is a common garden herb, with a feeble, aromatic, somewhat narcotic, though not unpleasant smell, and a salty, austere, rather disagreeable taste. The leaves, and more generally the flowers are used, and impart their active properties to alcohol or boiling water. The dried plant has a much weaker odor and taste. The dried flower heads are occasionally found in commerce. The French and the African marigold of our gardens, Tagetes erecta, Linné, and Tagetes patula, Linné, respectively, natives of the tropics, have been sold for true calendula, and it is believed that much of the fluid preparations of calendula are prepared from these plants.

Description.—"Florets about 12 Mm. (1/2 inch) long, linear and strap-shaped, delicately veined in a longitudinal direction, yellow or orange-colored, 3-toothed above, the short, hairy tube enclosing the remnants of a filiform style, terminating in 2 elongated branches; odor slight and somewhat heavy; taste somewhat bitter and faintly saline"—(U S. P.).

Specific Indications and Uses.—Locally, to wounds and injuries to prevent suppuration and promote rapid healing. Internally, to aid local action, and in chronic suppuration., capillary engorgement, varicose veins, old ulcers, splenic and hepatic congestion.


King's American Dispensatory, 1898, was written by Harvey Wickes Felter, M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D.

 

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Home | Online Store | Classes & Workshops | Gatherings & Events | Services Offered
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Writings of
Wendy Snow Fogg | Store Hours & Directions | Contact Us | Friends Link Exchange
 

Misty Meadows Herbal Center  -  185 Wednesday Hill Road  -  Lee, NH 03824
Phone 603-659-7211
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