Nederlands: Gewone dotterbloem
Español: Hierba centella - Calta palustre - Caléndula acuática - Verruguera
Français: Populage des marais - Caltha des marais
Deutsch: Sumpfdotterblume - Sumpf-Dotterblume
Family: Ranunculaceae - Buttercup family
Flowering time: March-June (sometimes again August-September)
Height: 15-40cm
Altitude: to 2500m
Colour: golden-yellow, greenish beneath
Leaves: rounded to heart-shaped or kidney-shaped, serrated edges
Habitat: wed meadows, marshes, fens, ditches and wet woodland
Distribution: most of Europe, except in the far north and in the Mediterranean region
Notes: Bunches of buttercup-like flowers form colourful mats along streams, wet pastures and in marshes. Named after the Greek for ´basket´, the flower cups spread wide open. Marsh Marigold is visited by various insects for nectar as well as pollen. It is a poisonous plant that is widely cultivated in gardens. Forms in the Netherlands may be divided into two subspecies: Caltha palustris subsp. palustris and Caltha palustris subsp. araneosa. This last variety (´Spindotterbloem´ in Dutch) only occurrs in the tidal areas of north-western Europe (Elbe to Schelde). The stem produces reproductive ´spiders´, that, when it dies in summer, are detached and transported by the tide. The plant is a bit stronger and bigger than the regular Marsh Marigold. Caltha palustris subsp. araneosa is on the Red List of vascular plants in the Netherlands.
In Great Britain the Marsh Marigold is believed to be one of the most ancient native plants, surviving the glaciations and flourishing after the last retreat of the ice, in a landscape inundated with glacial meltwaters. Forms in this country may be divided into two subspecies as well: Caltha palustris subsp. palustris and Caltha palustris subsp. minor. Caltha palustris subsp. minor are dwarf plants from northern Europe with creeping stems, rooting at the nodes.
Related key words: Rotterdam, Meije, Klein Profijt, Rhoonse grienden, Oude Maas, Landgoed Elswout Overveen, Nederlandse Rode Lijst, Pyrenees, Pyreneeën, Pirineos, El Bozo (Aísa), Barranco de Soba (Sallent de Gallego), Hospital (Benasque), Picos de Europa
