Tagetes minuta L.

Compositae, H. Beentje, C. Jeffrey & D.J.N. Hind. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2005

Morphology General Habit

Annual herb, 10–250 cm high; whole plant aromatic; stems much branched in larger plants, almost woody in larger plants, ribbed, glabrous, glandular.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves mostly opposite but often alternate in upper part of plant, dark green, pinnatisect, elliptic in outline, 3–30 cm long, 0.7–8 cm wide, the rachis thinly winged, lobes up to 17, linear-oblong, to 11 cm long and 1 cm wide, with orange glands.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum

Capitula many in dense terminal corymbs, narrowly cylindric; involucre 8–12 mm long; phyllaries 3–4, yellow-green, fused, glabrous, with brown or orange linear glands.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Ray florets 2–3, pale yellow to cream, the ray 2–3.5 mm long; disc florets 4–7, yellow to dark yellow, 4–5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Achenes black, narrowly ellipsoid, 6–7 mm long, pilose; pappus of 1–2 setae to 3 mm long and 3–4 scales to 1 mm long, these with ciliate apex.

Figures

Fig. 150 (page 726).

Habitat

Weed of cultivation and post-cultivation, in ruderal sites; may occur in dense patches; (850–)1300–2750 m

Distribution

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 T1 T2 T3 T5 T7 T8 U1 originally from South America but now a widespread weed in Africa, S Europe, S Asia and Australia

Use Environmental

Environmental uses.

Use Food

Used for food.

Use Materials

Used as material.

Use Medicines

Medical uses.

Use Poisons

Poisons.