Photo: Jasper33 · Public domain ↗

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Wetland plantsSeen in the wild

Caltha palustris

Marsh-marigold

Large golden flowers rise above fleshy kidney-shaped leaves by water in spring. This is not a garden marigold.

See all four seasons Explore fruits, seeds & edibility ↓ Where to look & how to find it ↓

Some plants are poisonous. Do not identify by a photograph alone, and never taste them.

FIELDCRAFT · FIND WITH CARE

Finding guide

Season first

Choose the season, find the habitat, then watch patiently. Search guidance is not a measure of rarity or conservation status.

When to go: Usually flowers April–July, most striking in spring.
Where to start: Irish wetlands and streamside paths. Observe from firm ground rather than entering marshes.
What to do when you arrive: In spring, view large yellow flowers and kidney-shaped leaves at wetland edges from firm paths. Compare flowers and leaves with buttercups without entering boggy ground or tasting plants.

Habitat and behaviour reference: Wildflowers of Ireland ↗ · The practical steps are editorial advice based on the references, not live sightings.

ONE PLANT · FOUR SEASONS

One plant. Four seasons.

Look beyond the flowers: fresh leaves, fruits, bare stems and dormancy.

Meteorological seasons: spring March–May, summer June–August, autumn September–November and winter December–February. Irish weather, cultivar, pruning and plant age affect timing and appearance.

Photos illustrate the relevant feature, not the same plant photographed through a year in Ireland. Features shared across seasons, such as evergreen leaves, may use the same reference. Missing reliable photos are marked; dormancy is not death.

Spring

Mar–May

Flowers

Golden flowers open above glossy kidney-shaped leaves in a conspicuous spring display.

Summer

Jun–Aug

Fruits

Early summer may retain flowers, followed by radiating fruit clusters and larger leaves.

Autumn

Sep–Nov

Feature photo not yet availableUse the appearance notes below; a different seasonal stage is not substituted.

Foliage and growth

Foliage declines, sometimes persisting longer in moist mild sites.

Winter

Dec–Feb

Underground or seed stageThere may be no visible above-ground plant at this stage. A flowering photo would be misleading.

Underground or seed dormancy

Most above-ground growth dies back while rootstocks overwinter in wet soil.

Seasonal references: Wildflowers of Ireland ↗ · Photo resized, converted to JPEG and stripped of metadata.

FRUIT · SEED · FOOD SAFETY

Fruits, seeds & edibility

Know the structure, then the part. Recognising a plant does not make it food.

Fruit

Marsh-marigold · A cluster of developing follicles. — A cluster of developing follicles.
J.F. Gaffard Jeffdelonge at fr.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗ License terms

A spreading cluster of follicles follows the flower; each opens along one side when ripe.

Food use of this part: Do not eat

Seeds & dispersal units

Marsh-marigold · Magnified marsh-marigold seeds with a millimetre scale. — Magnified marsh-marigold seeds with a millimetre scale.
USDA, NRCS. 2016. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 13 February 2016). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA. · Public domain ↗

Each follicle contains several small seeds that can be scattered by rainwater.

Food use of this part: Do not eat

Some seed references show intact one-seeded fruits or dispersal units, as identified in their captions. A whole-fruit photo is not a close-up of the enclosed seed. Cones and arils are not true fruits of flowering plants.

Sources & limitations

Wildflowers of Ireland ↗ · Botanical description, not proof of food safety
NC State Extension · Plant Toolbox ↗

No field detoxification methods or safe doses are provided. Never taste a plant to identify it or eat treated or contaminated specimens. Seek professional help after suspected accidental ingestion. National Poisons Information Centre, Ireland ↗

Photo resized, converted to JPEG and stripped of metadata.

BOTANICAL NOTESPlant notes

How to identify it

Smooth kidney- to heart-shaped leaves; golden petal-like sepals surround many stamens, on stout hollow stems.

Where it grows

Wet woods, streams, ponds, ditches and marshes.

Growth and ecology

A wetland perennial with radiating fruit clusters after flowering. The plant is poisonous; do not eat it.

Flowering and seasons

Usually flowers April–July, most striking in spring.

Where to look

Irish wetlands and streamside paths. Observe from firm ground rather than entering marshes.

Seasons vary with weather and location. Suggested habitats are places to look, not guaranteed sightings. Photos show only some features; check leaves, flowers, fruits and specialist references together.

Further reading:Wildflowers of Ireland ↗

Photo license: Jasper33 · Public domain ↗
Photo resized, converted to JPEG and stripped of metadata.

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