ASTERACEAE
Tagetes lucida
Common
Names: Mexican tarragon, sweetscented marigold
* native
to southern Mexico
Used as a landscape ornamental and as a spice.
Inflorescence a head with 5 ray florets and 12+ disc florets. | Habit - semi-woody sub-shrub. Has upright, unbranched stems. |
Phyllaries are in one series, fused and have very prominent glands. Notice the recurved style branches of the disc florets. | The leaves are minutely toothed and have many glands. The oil is fragrant, and the leaves can be used in salads or as a substitute for tarragon. |
The leaf margins are ciliate towards the bases. | |