Moonstruck Marigold
Tagetes erectaL.
Moonstruck Marigold
Marigold(Scientific name:Tagetes erecta, L.) is locally known as Kam Poo Joo (in the North) and is commonly grown for cut flowers. It is a marigold in the African or American group, known for its large flowers. The commercial variety in Thailand includes the Sovereign variety. Additionally, there are new imported varieties such as Jamaican and many others.
Marigolds are primarily propagated by seeds, although cuttings can be used, but the resulting plants will produce smaller flowers.
Botanical characteristics
Marigolds are herbaceous plants 25-60 cm tall. The leaves are lanceolate, pointed, and serrated. The flowers are single clusters at the tips. The outer flower petals are shaped like a rain gutter, with a small tube at the base and spreading at the tip. The inner flower petals are tubular and come in various colors such as orange, golden yellow, white, and bi-colored in the same flower, with both single and double flowers.
Uses
Marigold flowers are used to make various garlands for worshiping Buddha and sacred objects according to beliefs. The petals contain a high level of a yellow pigment called xanthophyll, so they are grown to harvest flowers for use as an ingredient in chicken feed to enhance the color of egg yolks, replacing synthetic substances.
Marigolds can accumulate arsenic at 52% in their leaves, making them useful for rehabilitating arsenic-contaminated soil. They have a pungent smell and can repel mosquitoes as well as other living organisms.
