What were the Roman calends?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
February 22, 2002
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading: Click here.
The pot marigold (Calendula officinalis Linnaeus) is a native of southern Europe and has been used since ancient times. Calendula flowers open in the morning and close in the late afternoon. This behavior gave them the name, solis sponsa, the sun's bride. In monasteries, the flower was called Oculus Christi, the eye of the Anointed (Christ) or Marygold and associated with the Virgin Mary.
John Gerard (1633) listed several names in The Herbal, "in French, souci:" meaning care, "in Italian, Fior d'ogni mese" or flower of every month, a reference to continuous blooming where the winters are mild.
But there are two references Gerard made that make no sense with the modern languages: "in low-Dutch it is called Goudtbloemen: in high-Dutch, kingleblumen:" The kingleblumen may have been a typographical error of the modern German name, ringelblume.
Goudtbloemen is apparently related to the modern Dutch, goudsbloem or gold bloom. The 1889 Century Dictionary, states there was confusion between Dutch goud, gold and French guede meaning woad a blue dye plant. But an interesting note in Grieves, Modern Herbal (1931), stated that Calendula flowers were used in the past to dye cheese a bright yellow.
The Romans noted the continual bloom; Calendula was derived from the Roman word, calends. Calends was the first day of the month in the Roman calendar and the day of the new moon. To the Romans, it seemed Calendula flowers were always open on these days.
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia has information and a photograph of Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis). To view the photograph, click on the link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendula
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
How does a marsh marigold glow? Renfield's Garden - April 24, 2002
Burr Marigold (Bidens laevis) Plant of the Week - November 18, 2002
What is the Day of the Dead flower? What's in a Name? - November 2, 2001
An herb for sore eyes, trembling hearts, and yellow hair Herbal Folklore - February 18, 2002
Living Stones (Lithops) Plant of the Week - November 22, 2004
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