Crops Pot marigold (Calendula officinalis)

Marigolds are very well-known garden plants, producing large numbers of brightly-coloured flowers over a long period. This species originated in Southern Europe and Eastern Mediterranean regions, and apart from its use as an ornamental, has traditional culinary and herbal uses. The flowers, or the dye obtained from them, may be used to colour and flavour foods such as rice, soups, cheeses and butter and in salads: infusions made from the crushed foliage have cleansing and antiseptic properties and are used for soothing and healing skin wounds and also as a remedy for some digestive diseases. Recently there has been increasing interest in the development of Calendula as an oilseed crop for industrial use. The seed oil contains about 60 percent of calendic acid, which could have applications in the manufacture of paints and coatings, cosmetics and some industrial nylon products.

This entry forms part of the publication Crops for Industry and Energy in Europe

References:

Bremness, L (1988) The Complete Book of Herbs. London: Dorling Kindersley & National Trust.

Chisholm, C J (Ed) (1994) Towards a UK Research Strategy for Alternative Crops. Silsoe: Silsoe Research Institute.

Hornok, L (Ed) (1992) Cultivation and Processing of Medicinal Plants. University of Horticultural Sciences, Budapest. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.

Janick, J & Simon, J E (Eds) (1993) New crops: Exploration, Research and Commercialisation. Proceedings of the Second National Symposium. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

Perry, F (1972) Flowers of the World. London: Hamlyn Press.

Industrial Crops and Products. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science B V

Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. Champaign: AOCS Press.

Relevant EC funded projects:
AIR-1817
FAIR Proposal: PL97 3713