''Tagetes tenuifolia'', the signet marigold, golden marigold or lemon marigold, is a North American

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

of the wild marigold in the family

Asteraceae Asteraceae () is a large family (biology), family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the Order (biology), order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchi ...

Description

''Tagetes tenuifolia'' is an annual herb sometimes reaching as much as tall. Leaves are less than long, deeply divided into many small parts. The plant produces many small bright yellow

flower heads A pseudanthium (; : pseudanthia) is an inflorescence that resembles a flower. The word is sometimes used for other structures that are neither a true flower nor a true inflorescence. Examples of pseudanthia include flower heads, composite flowers ...

in a flat-topped array, each head with five

ray florets Asteraceae () is a large family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchidaceae, and which is the larger fa ...

and 7–9

disc floret Asteraceae () is a large family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchidaceae, and which is the larger fa ...

Distribution and habitat

The species is widespread across most of

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

as well as

Central America Central America is a subregion of North America. Its political boundaries are defined as bordering Mexico to the north, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. Central America is usually ...

Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...

, and

Peru Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...

Uses

Culinary

The plant's edible flowers can be used as a garnish because of its lemon-like flavor.

Gardening

Marigolds are regarded as one of the easiest plants to grow. They are very hardy, and may survive minor frosts. The plant is well suited to a mostly sunny position, and fairly well draining soil. Overly fertile soil may cause the plants to become bushy and produce less flowers. Marigolds come in a variety of colours, but mostly yellows and oranges, flowering in the middle of summer. They can be planted outside when there is risk of frost. They can be purchased from most nurseries, and seeds are readily available in stores. It is often used as a

companion plant Companion planting in gardening and agriculture is the planting of different crops in proximity for any of a number of different reasons, including weed suppression, pest control, pollination, providing habitat for beneficial insects, maximi ...

for its insect-repelling properties.

Traditional medicine

Traditionally, the plants were decocted and used as a treatment for snakebites in Mexico, and the leaves were used as medicine for bruises in Peru. ''Tagetes tenuifolia'' could also be used as treatments for stomach flu in terms of indigestion, constipation, and infant diarrhea.

Other

Some species of ''Tagetes'' possess a characteristic scent, which repels insects such as mosquitoes, small animals and smaller, burrowing insects. ''Tagetes tenuifolia'' is one of these and is often planted near small creeks or puddle prone areas to repel bugs, especially mosquitoes. It was also found that the ''Tagetes tenuifolia'' contains thiophene which is a biocidal compound that acts as a natural pesticide to control

nematodes The nematodes ( or ; ; ), roundworms or eelworms constitute the phylum Nematoda. Species in the phylum inhabit a broad range of environments. Most species are free-living, feeding on microorganisms, but many are parasitic. Parasitic worms (he ...

in the field.

References

External links

line drawing for Flora of Panama
{{Taxonbar, from=Q572693 tenuifolia Flora of Mexico Flora of Central America Flora of Southern America Plants described in 1793 Taxa named by Antonio José Cavanilles