Calendula officinalis L. Asteraceae. Pot marigold, common marigold, ruds or ruddles. Calendula, because it was said to flower most commonly at the first of each month - the 'calends' (Coles, 1657). officinalis indicates that it was used in the 'offices' - the clinics - of the monks in medieval times. Annual herb. Distribution: Southern Europe. The Doctrine of Signatures, indicated that as the flowers resembled the pupil of the eye (along with Arnica, Inula and the ox-eye daisy), it was good for eye disorders (Porta, 1588). Coles (1658) writes '... the distilled water ... helpeth red and watery eyes, being washed therewith, which it does by Signature, as Crollius saith'. Culpeper writes: [recommending the leaves] '... loosen the belly, the juice held in the mouth helps the toothache and takes away any inflammation, or hot swelling being bathed with it mixed with a little vinegar.' The petals are used as a saffron substitute - ‘formerly much employed as a carminative

it is chiefly used now to adulterate saffron’ (Lindley, 1838). Avoid in pregnancy as it is a uterine stimulant (Medicines Control Agency, 2002). Flowers are added to salads and stews, and edible (although it is never suggested that one eats more than one). The plant contains carotenoids, flavoxanthin, auroxanthin and lutein and beta-carotene saponins, sesquiterpene glycosides and triterpenes. While the Chrusanthemon/Calchas of Dioscorides had 'leaves much jagged' (Gunther, 1959)) so was not our marigold, it had a yellow daisy-like flower and he noted that if drunk it could make one 'Icteral have a good colour' which would be secondary to the carotene in yellow flowers. Turner (1551) writes that the flowers were used 'to make their hair yellow, and, coyly, 'a perfume made of the dry flowers of this herb, and put to the convenient place, bring down the secondes [placenta, afterbirth].' Currently, used to make hand creams and food dyes. Skin sensitivity may occur. It is no longer licensed for internal use. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.