CALENDULA, or MARYGOLD, in botany, a genus of the syngenesia polygamia necessaria class. The receptacle is naked; it has no pappus; the calix con-
sists of many equal leaves; the seeds of the disk are membranaceous. There are eight species, none of them natives of Europe. The flowers of the calendula officinalis, or garden marygold, are said to be aperient and attenuating, as also cordiac, alexipharmic, and sudorific. They are principally celebrated in uterine obstructions, and for throwing out the small pox.