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]
Synonyms
  • Diglossus Cass.
  • Enalcida Cass.
  • Solenotheca Nutt.
  • Vilobia Strother

Tagetes [2] is a genus[3] of annual or perennial, mostly herbaceous plants in the sunflower family (Asteraceae or Compositae). It was described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.[4][5]

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.[3]

Description

Tagetes species vary in size from 0.1 to 2.2 m tall. Most species have pinnate green leaves. Blooms naturally occur in golden, orange, yellow, and white colors, often with maroon highlights. Floral heads are typically (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 species 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.[6]

The common name in English, "marigold", is derived from "Mary's gold", a name first applied to a similar plant native to Europe, Calendula officinalis. See marigold for other plants commonly called marigold. In Nepal, it is called 'शयपत्री' that means hundred-leafed flower, referring to its many florets per head.

The most commonly cultivated varieties of Tagetes are known variously as 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). The so-called signet marigolds are hybrids derived mostly from Tagetes tenuifolia.

Tagetes minuta is the source of commercial "tagetes oil" used in industry. It is now a naturalized species in Africa, Hawaii, and Australia, and is considered an invasive species (weed) in some regions.

Cultivation and uses

Marigolds decorating a grave for Day of the Dead in Mexico

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 species are hence often used in companion planting for tomato, eggplant, chili pepper, tobacco, and potato. Due to antibacterial thiophenes exuded by the roots, Tagetes should not be planted near any legume crop.[7] Some of the perennial species are deer-, rabbit-, rodent- and javalina or peccary-resistant.[7]

T. minuta (khakibush or huacatay), originally from South America, has been used as a source of essential oil for the perfume and 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. In the wild, many species are pollinated by beetles.[7]

Cultural significance

Marigold varieties prepared as offerings to a god during the Hindu festival of Maha Shivaratri

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 used as a culinary herb in Peru, Ecuador, and parts of Chile and Bolivia, where it is called by the Incan term huacatay. The paste is used to make the popular potato dish called ocopa. Having both "green" and "yellow/orange" notes, the taste and odor of fresh T. minuta is like a mixture of sweet basil, tarragon, mint and citrus. It is also used as a medicinal tea in some areas.[8]

Tagetes - various species

Marigold on an altar in Mexico

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[9] states of India.

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


Species

accepted species[10]
  1. Tagetes apetala
  2. Tagetes arenicola
  3. Tagetes argentina Cabrera
  4. Tagetes biflora Cabrera
  5. Tagetes campanulata Griseb.
  6. Tagetes daucoides
  7. Tagetes elliptica Sm.
  8. Tagetes elongata
  9. Tagetes epapposa
  10. Tagetes erecta L. – African marigold, Aztec marigold
  11. Tagetes filifolia Lag.
  12. Tagetes foeniculacea
  13. Tagetes foetidissima DC.
  14. Tagetes hartwegii Greenm.
  15. Tagetes iltisiana Rydb.
  16. Tagetes inclusa
  17. Tagetes lacera
  18. Tagetes laxa Cabrera
  19. Tagetes lemmonii A.Gray – Mt. Lemmon marigold, Mexican marigold [11]
  20. Tagetes linifolia
  21. Tagetes lucida Cav. – Mexican mint marigold, Texas tarragon
  22. Tagetes mandonii
  23. Tagetes mendocina Phil.
  24. Tagetes micrantha Cav. – licorice marigold
  25. Tagetes microglossa
  26. Tagetes minima
  27. Tagetes minuta L. – wild marigold
  28. Tagetes moorei
  29. Tagetes mulleri S.F.Blake
  30. Tagetes multiflora Kunth
  31. Tagetes nelsonii Greenm.
  32. Tagetes oaxacana
  33. Tagetes osteni
  34. Tagetes palmeri
  35. Tagetes parryi A.Gray
  36. Tagetes perezii Cabrera
  37. Tagetes praetermissa
  38. Tagetes pringlei S.Watson
  39. Tagetes patula L. – French marigold
  40. Tagetes pusilla
  41. Tagetes riojana M.Ferraro
  42. Tagetes rupestris Cabrera
  43. Tagetes stenophylla B.L.Rob.
  44. Tagetes subulata Cerv.
  45. Tagetes subvillosa
  46. Tagetes tenuifolia Cav. – signet marigold
  47. Tagetes terniflora Kunth
  48. Tagetes triradiata
  49. Tagetes verticillata Lag. & Rodr.
  50. Tagetes zypaquirensis Humb. & Bonpl.

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Genus: Tagetes L.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2011-01-06. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  2. ↑ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
  3. 1 2 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. ↑ Linnaeus, Carl von. 1753. Species Plantarum 2: 887 in Latin
  5. ↑ Tropicos Tagetes L.
  6. ↑ Everett, Thomas H. (1982). The New York Botanical Garden illustrated encyclopedia of horticulture. Taylor & Francis. p. 3290. ISBN 978-0-8240-7240-7.
  7. 1 2 3 Soule, J. A. 1993. Biosystematics of Tagetes (Compositae). Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Texas.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ Gupta, Y.C.; Y. D. Sharma; N.S. Pathania (2002-09-09). "Let the flower of gods bless you". The Tribune, Chandigarh, India (web site). Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  10. ↑ The Plant List, search for Tagetes
  11. ↑ USDA: Tagetes lemmoni

External links

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