CORN MARIGOLD

Glebionis segetum

(Formerly: Chrysanthemum segetum)
Daisy & DandelionFamily [Asteraceae]  

month8jun month8june month8jul month8july month8aug month8sep month8sept month8oct

status
statusZarchaeophyte
flower
flower8yellow
morph
morph8actino
petals
petalsZmany
stem
stem8round

7th Aug 2007, Arable fields near Martin Mere, Rufford, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
Colonising set-aside field margins.


7th Aug 2007, Arable fields near Martin Mere, Rufford, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
Bright yellow flowers, slightly glaucous leaves.


7th Aug 2007, Arable fields near Martin Mere, Rufford, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
Stem little-branched, about a foot tall.


7th Aug 2007, Arable fields near Martin Mere, Rufford, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
Slightly straggly appearance.


7th Aug 2007, Arable fields near Martin Mere, Rufford, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
Un-opened flower-bud, Leaves un-evenly jaggedly toothed, clasping the stem.


4th Aug 2009, Arable fields near Martin Mere, Rufford, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
Petals ribbed and with one or two notches at the bluntish tips.


4th Aug 2009, Arable fields near Martin Mere, Rufford, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
The bracts underneath the flower overlap each other.


4th Aug 2009, Arable fields near Martin Mere, Rufford, Lancs. Photo: © RWD


4th Aug 2009, Arable fields near Martin Mere, Rufford, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
Both petals and central florets a deep yellow.


15th July 2009, Arable fields near Martin Mere, Rufford, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
Some leaves jagged; all without stems.


4th Aug 2009, Arable fields near Martin Mere, Rufford, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
Typical leaf.


4th Aug 2009, Arable fields near Martin Mere, Rufford, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
Lower leaves may be plain, privet-like, but still clasping the stem.


Some similarities to : Common Fleabane from afar, in that it has a similarly large-sized yellow composite flower.

Lookee-Likees :

Uniquely identifiable characteristics

Distinguishing Feature :

No relation to : Marsh Marigold [a plant with similar name] which is a member of the Buttercup Family rather than the Daisy Family

Previously, some books had this flower listed under the Genus Cyrysanthemum but it is not one of the true 'Chrysanthemums', which come from the Orient and are the familiar Florist's Chrysanthemums.

Possessing natural insecticidal properties Corn Marigold was sometimes planted (or allowed to grow) near or within crop plants on farmland in order to keep pests at bay without recourse to modern insecticides (which may not have been as effective in past times).

Corn Marigold can be an invasive weed in some areas of the World. The above photographs show its potential in over-riding crop plants in Lancashire.

A FLAVONOL and its GLYCOSIDE

The yellow colour of the petals of most plants is due to the presence of carotenoids, but not in the case of Corn Marigold, where it is due to the presence of the 7-glucoside of Quercetin and particularly of the 7-glucoside of Gossypetin called Gossypitrin.


  Gossypetin is a flavonol and yellow dye which also exhibits strong anti-bacterial properties.

 Gossypitrin is also yellow contributing more to the colour of the petals than does Gossypetin.


  Glebionis segetum  ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ Asteraceae  

Distribution
family8Daisy family8dandelion family8Asteraceae
 BSBI maps
genus8Glebionis
Glebionis
(Crown Daisies)

CORN MARIGOLD

Glebionis segetum

(Formerly: Chrysanthemum segetum)
Daisy & Dandelion Family [Asteraceae]  

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