Fauna
Plant

White Marsh Marigold

Caltha alba

Also known as Himalayan Marsh Marigold

White marsh marigolds emerge along icy Himalayan meltwater streams and subalpine bogs, unfurling glossy kidney-shaped leaves as the winter snowpack recedes. Their broad, ivory-white sepals frame dense clusters of golden stamens, providing a vital nectar source for high-altitude bumblebees and hoverflies during the brief alpine summer. Like many buttercup relatives, all plant tissues store protective bitter compounds that deter heavy grazing from roaming livestock.

AlpinePerennialWetland
White Marsh Marigold reference1 / 2
(c) Sindhu Haridas, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthesis)
Predators
  • Domestic livestock
  • Alpine voles
ThreatsOvergrazing, wetland degradation, climate-driven glacial retreat
HabitatsAlpine meadows, glacial meltwater streams, high-altitude bogs
Life spanPerennial (several to many years)
Classification
  1. FamilyRanunculaceae
  2. SpeciesCaltha alba
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Contains blistering protoanemonin; avoid handling broken stems or ingesting any plant parts.
Why it is dangerous
Crushed tissues release protoanemonin, an oily toxin that causes contact dermatitis, mouth blistering, and severe digestive cramps if ingested.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for glossy kidney-shaped leaves and crisp white buttercup-like blossoms with yellow centers growing in saturated alpine mud.
What to do
Photograph without picking or crushing stems, and wash hands promptly if sap contacts bare skin.
Responsible observation
  • Footwear Etiquette: Stay on designated paths to avoid compacting fragile alpine wetland mud.
  • Best Timing: Look for flowering clumps in early to mid-summer as snowbanks recede.
Related species
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