Tagetes

Tagetes is a genus within the sunflower family, Asteraceae, made up of 50 species. These plants are mostly herbaceous and can be either annual or perennial. In English, they are commonly called marigolds, though they are one of several plant groups that share that name. The Nahua people originally knew them as cempōhualxōchitl. Their native range covers Central and Southern Mexico, along with several other Latin American countries. Some species have spread and become naturalized in other parts of the world; one, *T. minuta*, is considered a harmful invasive weed in certain regions.

The genus name *Tagetes* was formally given by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. He credited earlier botanists—Joseph Pitton de Tournefort (1700), Johann Jacob Dillenius (1732), Gaspard Bauhin (1623), and Fabio Colonna (1606)—for using the name before him. The following year, in his *Genera Plantarum*, Linnaeus published the official description, citing Tournefort, Sébastien Vaillant (1720), and Dillenius for the name.

Plants in this genus range from 0.1 to 2.2 meters tall. Most have green, pinnately divided leaves. Their flower heads, usually 1 to 6 centimeters across, come in golden, orange, yellow, and white, often with maroon highlights. Each head typically contains both ray florets and disc florets. In gardens, they are usually grown as annuals, though perennial types are becoming more popular. Like all marigolds, they have fibrous root systems. They can grow in almost any soil, but most garden varieties prefer well-drained ground, and some cultivars tolerate drought well.

The Latin name *Tagētes* comes from Tages, a figure in Etruscan mythology who was born from plowed earth. This likely refers to how easily these plants reappear each year, either from seeds dropped the previous season or from stems that regrow from the stump. The English name "marigold" is derived from "Mary's gold," in honor of the Virgin Mary, and was first used for a similar European plant, *Calendula officinalis*. The most commonly cultivated types are called African marigolds (usually hybrids and cultivars of *T. erecta*) and French marigolds (usually hybrids and cultivars of *T. patula*, many developed in France). Signet marigolds are hybrids mostly from *T. tenuifolia*.

Depending on the species, the foliage has a musky, pungent scent, though some varieties are bred to be scentless. Because the roots release antibacterial thiophenes, marigolds should not be planted near legume crops. Some perennial species resist deer, rabbits, rodents, and javelina or peccary. *T. minuta* (also called khakibush or huacatay), originally from South America, is grown for its essential oil, known as tagette or marigold oil, used in perfumes and as a flavoring in food and tobacco. It is widely cultivated in South Africa, where it also serves as a pioneer plant for reclaiming disturbed land.

The florets of *T. erecta* are rich in the carotenoid lutein, which gives them an orange-yellow color. In the European Union, this is used as a food coloring (INS number E161b) in 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 animal feed. Marigolds are recorded as a food plant for some Lepidoptera caterpillars, such as the dot moth, and as a nectar source for butterflies and bumblebees. They are often included in butterfly gardens. In the wild, many species are pollinated by beetles.

*Tagetes lucida*, known as pericón, is used in Mexico to make a sweet, anise-flavored medicinal tea. It is also used as a culinary herb in warm climates, as a substitute for tarragon, and is sold in nurseries as "Texas tarragon" or "Mexican mint marigold." *T. minuta*, native to southern South America, is a tall, upright marigold with small flowers. In Peru, Ecuador, parts of Chile, and Bolivia, it is called huacatay and used as a culinary herb. The paste is used in the potato dish ocopa. Its fresh taste and smell combine sweet basil, tarragon, mint, and citrus. It is also brewed as a medicinal tea for gastrointestinal complaints and against nematodes. *T. erecta* is widely used in Mexico for Day of the Dead celebrations.

In Bangladesh, India, and other South Asian countries, marigolds are used for decoration at events like turmeric ceremonies, weddings, and Pohela Falgun. During the colonial period, native varieties were replaced by American species such as *T. erecta*, *T. patula*, and *T. tenuifolia*. Marigolds are widely cultivated in India and Thailand, especially these three species, and are sold in markets for daily rituals. Large quantities are used in garlands and decorations for weddings, festivals, and religious events. In India, marigold cultivation is extensive in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh (for Vijayadashami and Diwali markets). In Ukraine, *T. erecta*, *T. patula*, and signet marigold (*T. tenuifolia*) are called chornobryvtsi and are considered a national symbol, often mentioned in songs, poems, and tales.