More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
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Sunflowers, Bellflowers, and Fanflowers of Zihuatanejo
ORDER ASTERALES
Mexican Marigold
Tagetes erecta
Flowers by Colour
-Vascular Plants (Phylum Tracheophyta)
-Flowering Plants (Subphylum Angiospermae)
-Sunflowers, Bellflowers, Fanflowers, and Allies (Order Asterales)
-Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies (Family Asteraceae)
-Subfamily Asteroideae
-Tribe Tageteae
-Marigolds (Genus Tagetes)
-Mexican Marigold (Tagetes erecta)
Tagetes erecta, the Aztec marigold, Mexican marigold, big marigold, cempazúchitl or cempasúchil, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Tagetes native to Mexico. Despite its being native to the Americas, it is often called African marigold. This plant reaches heights of between 20 and 90 cm. The Aztecs gathered the wild plant as well as cultivating it for medicinal, ceremonial and decorative purposes. It is widely cultivated commercially with many cultivars n use as ornamental plants, and for the cut-flower trade. Yellow to orange flowers.
Description
• Tagetes erecta, commonly known as Mexican marigold or Aztec marigold, is an annual herb in the daisy family (Asteraceae). It grows upright, typically reaching 30–120 cm tall, with branching stems and pinnately divided, dark green leaves that have toothed leaflets and a strong aromatic scent when crushed. Its large, rounded flower heads are usually bright yellow, golden or orange, with dense layers of ray and disc florets. Flowering occurs mainly during warm, sunny periods, and the fruits are slender, dark achenes. The species is widely cultivated as an ornamental and is valued for its colourful flowers, use in traditional ceremonies, and applications as a natural source of yellow-orange pigments.
Range
• Native to Mexico and parts of Central America, Tagetes erecta is now cultivated and naturalised in many tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. In the Zihuatanejo area of Guerrero, Mexico, it is commonly encountered as a cultivated garden plant and may occur occasionally outside cultivation, particularly around settlements and disturbed ground.
Habitat
• This species thrives in warm, sunny environments with well-drained soils and moderate moisture. It is commonly grown in gardens, courtyards, roadsides and agricultural plots, and tolerates seasonal dryness once established. In the Zihuatanejo region, it is well suited to the warm tropical climate and may flower readily during the rainy season and under irrigation in the dry season.
