marsh mar·i·gold Bot. A perennial plant of the genus Caltha (Caltha palustris), growing in wet places and bearing bright yellow flowers.  In the United States it is used as a pot herb under the name of cowslip. See Cowslip.

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 Mar·i·gold n.  Bot. A name for several plants with golden yellow blossoms, especially the Calendula officinalis (see Calendula), and the cultivated species of Tagetes.
 Note: ☞ There are several yellow-flowered plants of different genera bearing this name; as, the African marigold or French marigold of the genus Tagetes, of which several species and many varieties are found in gardens. They are mostly strong-smelling herbs from South America and Mexico: bur marigold, of the genus Bidens; corn marigold, of the genus Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum segetum, a pest in the cornfields of Italy); fig marigold, of the genus Mesembryanthemum; marsh marigold, of the genus Caltha (Caltha palustris), commonly known in America as the cowslip. See Marsh Marigold.
 Marigold window. Arch. See Rose window, under Rose.

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 Cow·slip n.  Bot.
 1. A common flower in England (Primula veris) having yellow blossoms and appearing in early spring. It is often cultivated in the United States.
 2. In the United States, the marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), appearing in wet places in early spring and often used as a pot herb. It is nearer to a buttercup than to a true cowslip. See Illust. of Marsh marigold.
 American cowslip Bot., a pretty flower of the West (Dodecatheon Meadia), belonging to the same order (Primulaceæ) with the English cowslip.
 French cowslip Bot., bear's-ear (Primula Auricula).

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 Caltha palustris
      n : swamp plant of Europe and North America having bright yellow
          flowers resembling buttercups [syn: marsh marigold, kingcup,
           meadow bright, May blob, cowslip, water dragon]