MARSH MARIGOLD -- scientific name Caltha palustris. This species is said by most botanists to be the most primitive flower in the world.

It was growing in England before the last ice age. It is related to the buttercup family and its tissues are kept erect by being full of water. This is why it lives in or close to water.

I have found the marsh marigold in bloom at the end of February but it reaches its glorious golden peak in May.

This accounts for one of its Lancashire names of May flower. Other local names include king cup, bull rush flowers, gipsy's money, Marybout and water buttercups.

The scientific name explains the plant as follows: caltha means cup which is the shape of the flower, while palustris means that it grows in a wet (riverside) habitat. In the early days of paper making a yellow dye was added to the product by adding the flowers of marsh marigold to the boiling mixture.