![]() ![]() In the wild, many species are pollinated by beetles. They are often part of butterfly gardening plantings. Marigolds are recorded as a food plant for some Lepidoptera caterpillars including the dot moth, and a nectar source for other butterflies and bumblebees. In the United States, however, the powders and extracts are only approved as colorants in poultry feed. The florets of Tagetes erecta are rich in the orange-yellow carotenoid lutein and are used as a food colour ( INS number E161b) in the European Union for foods such as pasta, vegetable oil, margarine, mayonnaise, salad dressing, baked goods, confectionery, dairy products, ice cream, yogurt, citrus juice and mustard. The so-called signet marigolds are hybrids derived mostly from Tagetes tenuifolia. The most commonly cultivated varieties of Tagetes are known variously as African marigolds (usually referring to cultivars and hybrids of Tagetes erecta), or French marigolds (usually referring to hybrids and cultivars of Tagetes patula, many of which were developed in France). The common name in English, marigold, is derived from Mary's gold, a name first applied to a similar plant native to Europe, Calendula officinalis. It likely refers to the ease with which plants of this genus come out each year either by the seeds produced in the previous year, or by the stems which regrow from the stump already in place. The Latin Tagētes derives from the name of the Etruscan Tages, born from the plowing of the earth. Most horticultural selections grow best in soil with good drainage, and some cultivars are known to have good tolerance to drought. ĭepending on the species, Tagetes species grow well in almost any sort of soil. In horticulture, they tend to be planted as annuals, although the perennial species are gaining popularity. Floral heads are typically (1-) to 4–6 cm diameter, generally with both ray florets and disc florets. Blooms naturally occur in golden, orange, yellow, and white colors, often with maroon highlights. Tagetes species vary in size from 0.1 to 2.2 m tall. minuta, is considered a noxious invasive plant in some areas. These plants are native to Mexico, growing naturally from Mexico's valley down to the south and even reaching several other Latinamerican countries, but some species have become naturalized around the world. The genus Tagetes was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. They are among several groups of plants known in English as marigolds. Tagetes ( / t æ ˈ dʒ iː t iː z/) is a genus of 50 species of annual or perennial, mostly herbaceous plants in the family Asteraceae. ![]()
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