Additional notes (click to expand)

Medicinal

In traditional herbal medicine: The leaves and whole plant are digestive, diuretic, febrifuge, hypotensive, narcotic, sedative and stimulant. Use of the plant depresses the central nervous system, whilst it is also reputedly anaesthetic and hallucinogenic. It is used internally in the treatment of diarrhoea, nausea, indigestion, colic, hiccups, malaria and feverish illnesses. Externally, it is used to treat scorpion bites and to remove ticks. The leaves can be harvested and used as required, whilst the whole plant is harvested when in flower and dried for later use[Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995].
http://www.pfaf.org, https://pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Tagetes+lucida

Geographical distribution

  • Northern America, Mexico
  • Southern America, Central America, El Salvador
  • Southern America, Central America, Guatemala
  • Southern America, Central America, Honduras

Tagetes lucida Cav.

Family: ASTERACEAE
Genus: Tagetes
Species: lucida Cav.
Common names: Death Flower; Sweet Mace; Mexican-Tarragon
Distribution summary: Mexico, Guatemala
Habit: Annual
Hardiness: H2 - Tender; cool or frost-free greenhouse
Habitat: Rocky slopes, scrub & light woodland
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Southern Hemisphere Wolfson bed (N)
Flowering months: July, August, September
Reason for growing: Medicinal, other use


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