Tagetes

Tagetes Marigolds
Tagetes erecta, African Marigold
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Subfamily:	Asteroideae
Tribe:	Tageteae
Genus:	Tagetes L.[1]
Species
About 56, including: Tagetes erecta Tagetes lucida Tagetes minuta Tagetes patula Tagetes tenuifolia as well as numerous hybrids
Synonyms
Adenopappus Benth. Diglossus Cass. Enalcida Cass. Solenotheca Nutt. Vilobia Strother

Tagetes ^[2] is a genus of 56 species ^[3] of annual and perennial mostly herbaceous plants in the sunflower family (Asteraceae or Compositae). The genus is native to North and South America, but some species have become naturalized around the world. One species, T. minuta, is considered a noxious invasive plant in some areas.^[4]

Description

Tagetes species vary in size from 0.01-2.2 m tall. They have pinnate green leaves. Blooms are naturally in golden, orange, yellow, and white colors, often with maroon highlights. Floral heads are typically (0.1-) to 4–6 cm diameter, generally with both ray florets and disc florets. In horticulture they tend to be planted as annuals, although the perennial species are gaining popularity.

Depending on the species, Tagetes grow well in almost any sort of soil. Most horticultural selections grow best in soil with good drainage.

Nomenclature

The name Tagetes is from the name of the Etruscan Tages.^[5]

The common name in English, "marigold", is derived from "Mary's Gold", a name once exclusively applied to Calendula. In Nepal it is called 'शयपत्री' that means hundred leafed flower, referring to its many florets per head.

The cultivated varieties are known variously as marigolds or variously as Mexican marigolds (or cempasúchil), African marigolds (usually referring to cultivars and hybrids of Tagetes erecta, although this species is not native to Africa), or French marigolds (usually referring to hybrids and cultivars of Tagetes patula, many of which were developed in France although the species is not native to that country). Tagetes minuta is a naturalized species in Africa, Hawaii, and Australia, and is considered an invasive species - weed in some regions.

Tagetes is not to be confused with the genus Calendula, which goes by "marigold" in some areas. See "marigold (disambiguation)" for this and other species commonly called marigold.

Cultivation and uses

Depending on the species, marigold foliage has a musky, pungent scent, though some varieties have been bred to be scentless. It is said to deter some common insect pests, as well as nematodes. Tagetes are hence often used in companion planting for tomato, eggplant, chili pepper, tobacco and potato. Some of the perennial species are deer-, rabbit-, rodent- and peccary-resistant.

T. minuta (khakibush or huacatay), originally from South America, has been used as a source of essential oil for the perfume industry known as tagette or "marigold oil", and as a flavourant in the food and tobacco industries. It is commonly cultivated in South Africa, where the species is also a useful pioneer plant in the reclamation of disturbed land.

The florets of Tagetes erecta are rich in the orange-yellow carotenoid lutein and are used as a food colour (INS-Number E161b) in the European Union for foods such as pasta, vegetable oil, margarine, mayonnaise, salad dressing, baked goods, confectionery, dairy products, ice cream, yogurt, citrus juice and mustard. In the United States, however, the powders and extracts are only approved as colorants in poultry feed.

Marigolds are recorded as a food plant for some Lepidoptera caterpillars including the Dot Moth, and a nectar source for other butterflies. They are often part of butterfly gardening plantings.

Cultural significance

Tagetes lucida

The species Tagetes lucida, known as "pericón," is used to prepare a sweetish, anise flavored medicinal tea in Mexico. It is also used as a culinary herb in many warm climates, as a substitute for tarragon, and offered in the nursery as "Texas tarragon" or "Mexican mint marigold".

Tagetes patula flowers

Tagetes minuta

Tagetes minuta, native to southern South America is a tall upright marigold plant with small flowers, and is used as a culinary herb in Peru, Ecuador, and parts of Chile and Bolivia, where it is called by the Incan term huacatay. Huacatay paste is used to make the popular potato dish called ocopa. Having both "green" and "yellow/orange" notes, the taste and odor of fresh Tagetes minuta is like a mixture of sweet basil, tarragon, mint and citrus. It is also used as a medicinal tea in some areas.^[6]

Tagetes - various species

The marigold is very significant in Nepalese culture where marigold garlands are used almost in every household especially during the Tihar festival. It is always sold in the markets for daily worships and rituals.

The marigold was regarded as the flower of the dead in pre-Hispanic Mexico, parallel to the lily in Europe, and is still widely used in the Day of the Dead celebrations. The marigold is also widely cultivated in India and Thailand, particularly the species T. erecta, T. patula, and T. tenuifolia. Vast quantities of marigolds are used in garlands and decoration for weddings, festivals, and religious events. Marigold cultivation is extensively seen in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh^[7]

In Ukraine, Chornobryvtsi (Tagetes erecta, Tagetes patula, and the signet marigold, Tagetes tenuifolia) are regarded as one of the national symbols, and are often mentioned in songs, poems and tales.

Other marigolds have other uses around the world.^[8]

Selected species

Tagetes apetala Posada-Ar. Tagetes argentina Cabrera Tagetes biflora Cabrera Tagetes campanulata Griseb. Tagetes dianthiflora Kunth Tagetes elliptica Sm. Tagetes erecta L. – Aztec Marigold Tagetes erythrocephala Rusby Tagetes filifolia Lag. Tagetes foetidissima DC. Tagetes gracilis DC. Tagetes hartwegii Greenm.

Tagetes heterocarpha Rydb. Tagetes laxa Cabrera Tagetes lemmonii A.Gray – Lemmon's Marigold Tagetes lucida Cav. – Mexican Mint Marigold Tagetes mendocina Phil. Tagetes micrantha Cav. – Licorice Marigold Tagetes minuta L. – Wild Marigold Tagetes mulleri S.F.Blake Tagetes multiflora Kunth Tagetes nelsonii Greenm. Tagetes parryi A.Gray Tagetes patula L. – French Marigold

Tagetes pectinata Turcz. Tagetes perezii Cabrera Tagetes pringlei S.Watson Tagetes remotiflora Kunze Tagetes riojana M.Ferraro Tagetes rupestris Cabrera Tagetes stenophylla B.L.Rob. Tagetes subulata Cerv. Tagetes tenuifolia Cav. – Signet Marigold Tagetes terniflora Kunth Tagetes verticillata Lag. & Rodr. Tagetes zypaquirensis Humb. & Bonpl.[9][10]

Formerly placed here

• Tithonia rotundifolia (Mill.) S.F.Blake (as T. rotundifolia Mill.)^[10]

Gallery

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  Tagetes patula

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  African Marigold flower (Tagetes spp.)

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  Tagetes anatomy

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  Growing Tagetes flower

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  Growing Tagetes flower

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  Growing Tagetes flower

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References

1. ^ "Genus: Tagetes L.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2011-01-06. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?11840. Retrieved 2011-07-14. 
2. ^ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
3. ^ Soule, J. A. 1996. Infrageneric Systematics of Tagetes. Pgs. 435-443 in Compositae: Systematics, Proceedings of the International Compositae Conference, Kew 1994, Vol. I, Eds. D.J.N. Hind & H.J. Beentje.
4. ^ Soule, J. A. 1996. Infrageneric Systematics of Tagetes. Pgs. 435-443 in Compositae: Systematics, Proceedings of the International Compositae Conference, Kew 1994, Vol. I, Eds. D.J.N. Hind & H.J. Beentje.
5. ^ Everett, Thomas H. (1982). The New York Botanical Garden illustrated encyclopedia of horticulture. Taylor & Francis. p. 3290. ISBN 9780824072407. http://books.google.com/books?id=KeGzp-YXrPYC&pg=PA3290. 
6. ^ Soule, J. A. 1993. Tagetes minuta: A Potential New Herb from South America. Pgs. 649-654 in New Crops, Proceedings of the New Crops Conference 1993, Eds. J. Janick & J. E. Simon.
7. ^ Gupta, Y.C.; Y. D. Sharma and N.S. Pathania (2002-09-09). "Let the flower of gods bless you". The Tribune, Chandigarh, India (web site). http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020909/agro.htm#3. Retrieved 2007-09-01. 
8. ^ Soule, J. A. 1996. Novel Annual and Perennial Tagetes. Pgs. 546-551 in Progress in New Crops, Proceedings of the National New Crops Conference 1996, Ed. J. Janick.
9. ^ "Tagetes". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=38482. Retrieved 2011-07-14. 
10. ^ ^{a b} "GRIN Species Records of Tagetes". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?11840. Retrieved 2011-07-14. 

External links

• Marigold Commercial Greenhouse Production
• Plant Cultures: Use of marigolds in Asian culture
• African Marigold - A description from the 1636 book "The Herball or Generall Historie of Plants"
• Growing African Marigolds