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Tagetes (Tages, an Etruscan god, or perhaps of other derivation). Compositae. Marigold. American perennial and annual flower-garden herbs.
Leaves opposite or alternate, pinnately cut or rarely simply serrate: fl.-heads of various sizes, yellow or orange, marked in some species with red: strong-scented plants with opposite or alternate mostly pinnately divided lvs. that bear oil-glands : involucre of united parts forming a cup or tube, naked at base: achene angled or flattened, the pappus of a few entire mostly unequal bristles or scales: rays pistillate; disk-fls. perfect.—Species about 20, from New Mex. and Ariz. to Argentina, mostly annuals. The popular annual species known as "African" and "French" marigolds have been derived respectively from T. erecta and T. patula, both of which are native to Mex. According to Sweet's Hortus Britannicus, these two species were intro. into cult. in 1596 and 1573.
For garden purposes Tagetes may be divided into two groups, based upon habit of growth. T. erecta and T. lucida are of upright and somewhat open growth; while T. patula and T. signata are spreading and bushy, the lower branches lying close to the ground and often rooting. The French marigolds, T. patula, are valuable bedding plants. Good garden forms are of even height and bushy compact growth, with a mass of good foliage and well-colored flowers appearing continuously from June until frost. In raising plants, it is preferable to grow them in pots, as this practice seems to check the plants sufficiently to cause them to bloom at a small size and more plentifully during the early summer months than if they were raised with unlimited root room. They should be planted about 1 foot apart. This species also makes attractive specimens in small pots in a few weeks from seed. Mixed seed of the double sorts will give a large percentage of good double flowers, while the seed of special named double sorts is remarkably good. Some of the single forms are very finely colored. The African marigolds, T. erecta, are not well suited to bedding purposes, the growth being too open, but for the mixed border or shrubbery they are excellent late-blooming subjects. This species should be grown with plenty of root room, air, and rich soil from start to finish if the largest and most double flowers are desired. The African marigolds are very useful as cut-flowers except under circumstances where their odor is objectionable.
For pot marigold, see Calendula.
T. lacera is a species discovered about 1896 by T. S. Brandegee in Low. Calif. It makes a compact bush 4-5 ft. high, bearing a profusion of yellow fls. in winter. Small plants flower well in pots. See G.F. 9:67. —T. Lemmonii. Gray, also a shrubby nearly smooth plant about 2 ft. high, seems to be grown in Calif. It is distinctly woody but rather slender: lvs. all opposite, 3-7-foliolate, the serrulate lfts. about 1 in. long: heads about 1 in. diam., showy. Ariz. G. C. III. 27:21.
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