Tagetes erecta

Upright Marigold (Tagetes erecta )

The Upright Marigold (Tagetes erecta ) is a plant from the sunflower family ( Asteraceae).

Features

The Upright Marigold is an annual plant that reaches the plant height of 45 to 75 (rarely 35 to 100 ) centimeters. The stalk is wrinkled and green. The leaf sections are lanceolate. The sleeve 9 - to 13 - bidentate and 18 to 22 millimeters long. The heads have a diameter of 5 to 9 ( rarely to 12) cm. There are more than 100 disc florets present. The ray florets are usually solid orange or yellow.

The flowering period extends from May to November.

Occurrence

The Upright Marigold is found in Mexico and Central America. There are no known safe wildlife reserves.

Toxicity

Tagetes erecta Tagetes patula as hybrids are hybrids and other Tagetes species in all plant parts phototoxic. The main reasons for this are thiophene such as the alpha- terthienyl. These substances also cause Tagetes species can cause airborne contact dermatitis.

Use

The Upright Marigold is widely used as an ornamental plant for summer borders, window boxes and used as a cut flower. In the Orient, it is also used as spice, perfume and medicinal plant use. Furthermore, the flowers for coloring of poultry feed are used. The colored lining simultaneously causes the yellow color of egg yolk and chicken meat. It is in culture at least since 1561. There are over 50 known varieties.

Documents

• Eckhart J. Hunter, Friedrich Ebel, Peter Hanelt, Gerd Müller, K. (ed.): Excursion Flora of Germany. Founded by Werner Roth painter. Volume 5: Herbaceous ornamental and useful plants, Springer, Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Berlin / Heidelberg, 2008, ISBN 978-3-8274-0918-8, page 603