Irish-lace

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Irish-lace
• Irish-lace marigold
• Irish lace marigold

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tagetes pusilla
• Tagetes scabra
• Tagetes pseudomicrantha
• Tagetes anisata
• Diglossus variabilis
• Enalcida foeniculifolia
• Solenotheca tenella
• Tagetes perretii
• Tagetes silenoides
• Tagetes dichotoma
• Enalcida pilifera
• Tagetes fragrantissima
• Tagetes foeniculacea
• Tagetes congesta

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asterales, it is classified under the family Asteraceae and the genus Tagetes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution that spans across several distinct regions. In the United States, its range extends into the southeastern territory, specifically reaching as far north as Maryland. The species is also widely distributed throughout various parts of Mexico. Its presence is noted in the central and northeastern regions of the country. Furthermore, it can be found across the Mexican Gulf and throughout the northwest.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Tagetes filifolia is characterized by a broad and highly adaptable elevational distribution, allowing it to inhabit a diverse range of altitudinal gradients. It is found across a vast spectrum starting from sea level (0 m AMSL) and ascending to extreme high-altitude environments reaching a maximum of 4400 m AMSL. This wide vertical range indicates a high tolerance for varying climatic conditions and atmospheric pressures. On average, the species thrives at a mean elevation of 1950 m AMSL, suggesting that its optimal ecological niche is situated within mid-altitude montane zones, though its ability to persist from coastal lowlands to alpine heights demonstrates significant environmental plasticity.

Elevational range max:

4400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1950 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Tagetes filifolia is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire biological progression—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. As an annual species, it initiates its development following seasonal moisture availability, rapidly establishing a root system and producing its distinctive finely divided, thread-like foliage. During its vegetative phase, the plant focuses on accumulating energy to support its reproductive stage, eventually transitioning into a flowering phase where it produces composite blooms. Once pollination is successful and the seeds have matured, the parent plant completes its life cycle and dies, leaving behind a seed bank in the soil to ensure the commencement of the next generation when environmental conditions become favorable.

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Tagetes filifolia is characterized by a growth form classified as a herb and a forb, exhibiting a non-woody structure. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it maintains an independent existence rather than acting as a parasite. Reaching an average plant height of approximately 0.4 m, the species is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, showing no aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.4 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Tagetes filifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in varying environmental conditions. Unlike plants utilizing C4 or CAM pathways, this species relies on the enzyme Rubisco for initial carbon dioxide fixation within the mesophyll cells, typically favoring environments where moisture and temperature are moderate. Additionally, regarding its nutrient cycling capabilities, Tagetes filifolia is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it does not possess a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a bioavailable form and must instead rely on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil substrate.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Tagetes filifolia is primarily driven by biotic mechanisms, relying on living organisms to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The pollination syndrome of this species is characterized as biotic, indicating a strong evolutionary dependency on biological agents rather than abiotic factors like wind or water. Specifically, the plant utilizes an insect-mediated pollination strategy, where various insect species serve as the primary vectors for genetic exchange. This insect-driven process encompasses a diverse range of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, moths, flies, and beetles, which are attracted to the floral structures to ensure successful fertilization and subsequent seed production.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Tagetes filifolia has 39 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Citral, (+)-Limonene, 5-(4-acetoxy-1-butenyl)-2,2'-bithienyl, ALPHA-PINENE, ALPHA-THUJENE.

Citral

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences

(+)-Limonene

1. Dr. Duke

5-(4-acetoxy-1-butenyl)-2,2'-bithienyl

1. Dr. Duke

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke

ALPHA-THUJENE

1. Dr. Duke

ANETHOLE

1. Dr. Duke

Anisaldehyde

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-CARYOPHYLLENE

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke

CA

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Activities

Tagetes filifolia has 134 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiinflammatory, AChE-Inhibitor, Acaricide, Allelochemic, Allelopathic.

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

AChE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allelopathic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Anesthetic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiNF-kB

1. Dr. Duke

AntiTNF

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations

Tagetes filifolia has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Ethanolic extracts, essential oils.

Ethanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Essential oils

1. International journal of molecular sciences