1. Calendula maxima. The great Garden Marigold.
Garden Marigold hath round greene stalkes, branching out from the ground into many parts, whereon are set long flat greene leaues, broader and rounder at the point then any where else, and smaller also at the setting to of the stalke, where it compasseth it about: the flowers are sometimes very thicke and double (breaking out of a scaly clammy greene head) composed of many rowes of leaues, set so close together one within another, that no middle thrume can bee seene, and sometimes lesse double, hauing a small browne spot of a thrume in the middle: and sometimes but of two or three rowes of leaues, with a large browne thrume in the middle; euery one whereof is somewhat broader at the point, and nicked into two or three corners, of an excellent faire deepe gold yellow colour in some, and paler in others, and of a pretty strong and resinous sweete sent: after the flowers are past, there succeede heads of crooked seede, turning inward, the outermost biggest, and the innermost least: the roote is white, and spreadeth in the ground, and in some places will abide after the seeding, but for the most part perisheth, and riseth againe of his owne seede. Sometimes this Marigold doth degenerate, and beareth many small flowers vpon short stalkes, compassing the middle flower: but this happeneth but seldome, and therefore accounted but lusus naturæ, a play of nature, which she worketh in diuers other plants besides.
2. Calendula simplex. The single Marigold.
There is no difference betweene this and the former, but that the flowers are single, consisting of one rowe of leaues, of the same colour; eyther paler or deeper yellow, standing about a great browne thrumme in the middle: the seed likewise is alike, but for the most part greater then in the double kindes.
The Place.
Our Gardens are the chiefe places for the double flowers to grow in; for we know not of any other naturall place: but the single kinde hath beene found wilde in Spaine, from whence I receiued seede, gathered by Guillaume Boel, in his time a very curious, and cunning searcher of simples.
The Time.
They flower all the Summer long, and sometimes euen in winter, if it be milde, and chiefly at the beginning of those monethes, as it is thought.
The Names.
They are called Caltha of diuers, and taken to be that Caltha, whereof both Virgil and Columella haue written. Others doe call them Calendula, of the Kalendes, that is the first day of the monthes, wherein they are thought chiefly to flower; and thereupon the Italians call them Fiori di ogni mese, that is, The Flowers of euery moneth: We cal them in English generally, eyther Golds, or Marigolds.