CHALICED Flower

8th April 2024

Photo Credit: emer1940 (Getty Images), CANVA

QUOTATION

Hark, hark, the lark at heaven’s gate sings,

And Phoebus gins arise,

His steeds to water at those springs,

On chaliced flowers that lies;

And winking Mary-buds begin

to ope their golden eyes.

With everything that pretty is,

My lady, sweet, arise,

Arise, arise.

SONG: Cymbeline, Act 2, Scene 3

CHALICED FLOWER (e.g. Globe Flower (Trollius europaeus) or Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)

There is no consensus on what is meant by ‘chaliced flowers’. Suggestions have included the Globe Flower (Trollius europaeus) or Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) which have a chalice type flower and grow in wet areas around spring. Globe flowers are not found wild in southern England and John Gerard (1597) says that was the case also in the late 1500s. Marsh Marigolds are much more widespread.

More Information

BSBI Plant Atlas 2020: Trollius europaeus, Caltha palustris

Folger Shakespeare: Search Shakespeare’s Works

John Gerard, 1597 The Herball, or Generall Historie of Plantes (1636 edition accessed via Archive.org)