Marigold

Marigold plant with yellow flowers

Description

A natural yellow dye obtained from the yellow/orange flowers (genus Tagetes) that grow freely in England, South America, Mexico, and the southwestern United States. Caltha palustris, or marsh marigolds, grow in marshlands or stream beds, and its flowers produce a yellow dye that primarily contains lycopene, a carotenoid. When mordanted with chrome on wool, the yellow dye has good stability to light and washing.

Synonyms and Related Terms

marsh marigolds; Kingcup marigold; Natural Yellow 27; Caltha palustris

Authority

• R.J. Adrosko, R.J. Adrosko, Natural Dyes in the United States, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, 1968

• Helmut Schweppe, Helmut Schweppe, Schweppe color collection index and information book

• Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "marigold" Encyclopdia Britannica [Accessed May 6, 2002].

• Colour Index International online at www.colour-index.org

• The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983 Comment: entry 5436