southern cone marigold

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• little marigold
• minute marigold
• muster John Henry
• wild marigold
• Southern Marigold
• Aztec marigold
• Mexican marigold
• dwarf marigold
• khakibush
• stinking-Roger
• Kahki Weed
• Khaki Weed
• Khakibos
• Khakibush Weed
• Master John-Henry
• Stinking Roger
• Tall Khaki Weed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tagetes glandulifera
• Tagetes glandulosa
• Tagetes montana
• Tagetes porophyllum
• Tagetes bonariensis
• Tagetes tinctoria

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. Finally, its specific taxonomic identification is placed within the genus Tagetes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be observed in Great Britain as well as throughout Norway and Sweden. Moving toward the center of the continent, the species is also documented within Middle Europe. Specifically, it inhabits the landscapes of Austria and Belgium. This range demonstrates the plant's ability to thrive in diverse European environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Tagetes minuta is characterized by its remarkable adaptability across a vast altitudinal gradient, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 2500 m AMSL. It exhibits a broad ecological niche with a mean elevation of approximately 2455 m AMSL, suggesting a strong presence in high-altitude environments. Furthermore, the species frequently colonizes anthropic areas (Área Antrópica), indicating a high tolerance for disturbed habitats and human-modified landscapes where it can thrive alongside anthropogenic activity.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2455 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Tagetes minuta are characterized by a specific karyotypic structure, most notably defined by a chromosome number of 48. This chromosomal configuration plays a fundamental role in the plant's reproductive biology and its capacity for genetic variation. The presence of these 48 chromosomes contributes to the complex genomic architecture that governs the biosynthesis of its various secondary metabolites. Such genetic stability and organization are essential for the inheritance of specific biochemical pathways, ensuring that the plant's phenotypic expression remains consistent across generations within its natural and cultivated habitats.

Chromosome number :

48

Life history

The life history of Tagetes minuta is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire developmental cycle—from germination and vegetative growth to flowering and seed production—within a single growing season. Functioning as a therophyte, the plant survives unfavorable environmental conditions by persisting in the form of seeds, which remain dormant until the onset of favorable seasonal conditions. This strategy allows the species to rapidly colonize disturbed habitats and exploit seasonal resources, ensuring the continuation of its lineage through prolific seed dispersal before the death of the individual plant.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Tagetes minuta is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a terrestrial, independent plant that does not function as an epiphyte or a parasite. The plant exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit rather than being a liana or vine, and its shoot orientation is predominantly erect. In terms of stature, it displays significant variation in plant height, with a minimum height of 0.1 m, a mean height of 1.85 m, and a maximum height reaching up to 3 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

1.85 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Tagetes minuta is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's vegetative structure features an alternate leaf arrangement, where the leaves exhibit an elliptic form. These leaves vary in dimensions, with a minimum width of 0.2 cm and a maximum width of 0.9 cm, while the leaf length can reach a maximum of 10 cm. In terms of nutrient acquisition and metabolic specialization, the species is non-carnivorous and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil-based nitrogen uptake to support its physiological development.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf width max:

0.9 cm

Leaf width min:

0.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Tagetes minuta is primarily a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is noted to be absent. The plant features an inflorescence structured as an umbel, producing green flowers that typically range in length from 0.1 cm to 0.3 cm. The flowering period generally begins in August and concludes in October. Pollination is driven by biotic factors, specifically through an insect pollination syndrome. Following fertilization, the plant develops dry, indehiscent fruits classified as achenes. These fruits vary in size, with a mean length of 0.6 cm (ranging from 0.5 cm to 0.8 cm) and a mean width of 0.1 cm. The seeds contained within these fruits are quite small, possessing a mean mass of 0.001182 g (ranging from 0.00077 g to 0.00202 g) and a consistent seed volume of approximately 1.1 mm³. Dispersal of the seeds is achieved through an anemochorous syndrome, meaning they are dispersed by the wind.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

green

Flower length max:

0.3 cm

Flower length min:

0.1 cm

Flowering time :

Aug

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.8 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.6 cm

Fruit length min:

0.5 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width mean:

0.1 cm

Inflorescence :

umbel

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00202 g

Seed mass mean:

0.001182 g

Seed mass min:

0.00077 g

Seed volume max:

1.1 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Tagetes minuta has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower.

Leaf

1. Natural product research
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flower

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Chemicals

Tagetes minuta has 104 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Dihydrotagetone, LIMONENE, Tagetone, cis-Ocimene, 1,8-Cineole.

Dihydrotagetone

1. Natural product research
2. Biomedical & environmental mass spectrometry

LIMONENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemosphere

Tagetone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedical & environmental mass spectrometry

cis-Ocimene

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemosphere

1,8-Cineole

1. Dr. Duke

2,3,5-Trimethylfuran

1. Dr. Duke

2,6-Dimethyl-7-octen-4-one

1. Dr. Duke

2-Hexen-1-al

1. Dr. Duke

5-(3-Buten-1-ynyl)-2,2'-bithienyl

1. Dr. Duke

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Tagetes minuta has 368 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, (-)-Chronotropic, (-)-Inotropic, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports
3. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AChE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Tagetes minuta has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Aspergillus niger, diuresis, hyperglycemia, hypertension, spasmolytic.

Aspergillus niger

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Diuresis

1. Planta medica

Hyperglycemia

1. Bioresource technology

Hypertension

1. Bioresource technology

Spasmolytic

1. Genetics and molecular research : GMR

Preparations

Tagetes minuta has 11 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Crude organic extracts, EO, EOs, acetone, acetone extract.

Crude organic extracts

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Eo

1. Natural product research

Eos

1. Galen medical journal

Acetone

1. Scientific reports

Acetone extract

1. Scientific reports

Essential oil flower

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Extracts with methanol

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Fractions with different solvents

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Methanol

1. Scientific reports

Organic (oe) and aqueous extracts (ae)

1. Virology journal