Yellow marsh marigold, Water buttercup
Caltha palustris

Family: Ranunculaceae

What it is like

A perennial plant. It grows 15-38 cm high and 45-60 cm wide. The roots are long and white. The stems are stout and hollow. The leaves are kidney shaped and deep green. They are 5-18 cm wide. The lower leaves have long stalks while higher leaves do not have stalks. The flowers are cup shaped. They are rich yellow. They can occur singly or in clusters.

There are about 10 Caltha species. They grow in temperate bogs.

Where it is found

A temperate plant. It is frost hardy. It grows along the edges of streams and ditches. It grows in wetlands and swamps. In Nepal it grows at 2,250-4,200 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 3-9. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Alaska, Albania, Arctic, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bosnia, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Caucasus, Central Asia, China, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Europe (country/location of origin), Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Himalayas, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, North America, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Siberia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, USA, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

Caution: It is considered poisonous. Boiling breaks down the poisonous protoanemonin. The leaves are used as a potherb. They are often boiled in 2 or more changes of water and cooked in a cream sauce. The leaves are used for sarma in Turkey. They are rolled around a filling of rice or minced meat. The pickled flower buds can be substituted for capers. They are pickled. The flowers are used for wine. The roots are also eaten. They are boiled and eaten.

The well cooked leaves are often used.

Edible parts

Flowers, leaves, root, caution

How it is grown

It can be grown by division of the crowns. It can also be grown from seed.

Young plants are collected before flowering.

Its other names

Local names

Abububa, Ahklingquahk, Allmaguaq, Allmaruat, Allngiguaq, Cowflock, Cowslip, Huang hua cai, Kengerosh, Kingcup, Lilpar, Lulpar, Mamris, Meadow-bright, Mumiri, Tayahksungwak, Wivlut

Synonyms

Caltha alpestris Schott, Nyman & Kotschy; Caltha alpina (Schur) Schur; Caltha polypetala Hochst. ex Lorent; and many others