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Tagetes erecta

Common name:	African Marigold	Family:	Compositae
Author:	L.	Botanical references:	200
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	Southern N. America - Mexico.
Habitat:	Grows in the pine-oak forest zone[181]. A garden escape in the USA where it grows along the sides of roads[43].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	3	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	3

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	T. major[B,P]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	African Marigold [H], Aztec Marigold [B,P], Big Marigold [E], Chambergo [E], Clavel De Los Muertos [E], Fleurs Souci [E], Souci [E],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	erecta = erect; recta = erect;
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Asterales. Renamed to Asteraceae -- Aster family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	Brazil; China; Cuba; Dominican Republic; Haiti; India; Mexico; Mexico(Chinantec); Panama; Panama(Choco); Us

Physical Characteristics

Annual growing to 1m by 0.4m . It is hardy to zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in flower in July. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. We rate it 3/5 for edibility and 3/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Cultivated Beds.

Cultivar 'Yellow Climax': Cultivated Beds.

Edible Uses

Colouring; Condiment; Flowers.

The petals of the flowers of some varieties can be eaten[183]. The fresh receptacle is eaten by children[272].
A yellow dye obtained from the flowers can be used as a saffron substitute for colouring and flavouring foods[183].
The plant is used as a condiment[177]. (This probably refers to the use of the flowers as an edible dye)

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Anthelmintic; Aromatic; Carminative; Digestive; Diuretic; Emmenagogue; Laxative; Ophthalmic; Sedative; Skin; Stomachic.

The whole herb is anthelmintic, aromatic, digestive, diuretic, emmenagogue, sedative and stomachic[61, 238]. It is used internally in the treatment of indigestion, colic, severe constipation[238], coughs and dysentery[218]. Externally, it is used to treat sores, ulcers, eczema. sore eyes and rheumatism[218, 238, 257, 272]. The leaves are harvested as required for immediate use during the growing season, whilst the flowering plant can be dried and stored for later use[238].
A paste of the leavs is applied externally to treat boils, carbuncles and earaches[272].
The flowers are carminitive, diuretic and vermifuge[272]. A decoction is used to treat colds, and mumps[218]. It is applied externally to trea skin diseases, conjunctivitis and sore eyes[218, 272].
The root is laxative[272].

Other Uses

Dye; Insecticide; Repellent.

Secretions from the roots of growing plants have an insecticidal effect on the soil, effective against nematodes and to some extent against keeled slugs. These secretions are produced about 3 - 4 months after sowing[200]. The flower petals also have nematacidal properties[218]. The growing plant is also said to repel insects and can be grown amongst crops such as potatoes and tomatoes.
A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[169, 257].

Cultivation details

Requires a well-drained moderately fertile soil in a sunny position[200]. Grows well in heavy clay soils and in sandy soils[188].
Although not very frost resistant, it can be grown as a tender annual in Britain, sowing the seed in a greenhouse in the spring and planting out after the last expected frosts.
The flowers are often sold in local markets in Nepal and used as an offering to the Gods[272].
A number of named forms have been developed for their ornamental value[183]. The cultivar 'Yellow Climax' has mild flavoured edible flowers that can be used as colourful garnishes[183].
All parts of the plant emit an unpleasant smell similar to that of stale urine when they are bruised[245].
Removing dead flowers before the seed is formed will extend the flowering season[188].
Plants are prone to attacks by slugs, snails and botrytis[188].

Propagation

Seed - sow March in a greenhouse. Only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts.

Scent

Plant: Crushed: All parts of the plant emit an unpleasant smell similar to that of stale urine when they are bruised[245].

Cultivars

'Yellow Climax': A form with mild flavoured edible flowers that can be used as colourful garnishes[183].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[C] Taxon data. from the CalFlora database.
[PHARM] Phytochemical Data (common names, uses, countries) from Dr Duke's Phytochemical Database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[43] Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950
A bit dated but good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.

[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

[169] Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.
Covers all aspects of growing your own clothes, from fibre plants to dyes.

[177] Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3874292169
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[181] Pesman. M. W. Meet Flora Mexicana. Dale S. King. Arizona. 1962
Very readable flora but rather lacking botanically. A few notes on useful plants.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[188] Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[218] Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.

[238] Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

[257] Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.

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Bibliography

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
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