MARIGOLD

any plant of the genus Tagetes of the family Asteraceae, consisting of about 30 species of annual herbs native to southwestern North America, tropical America, and South America. The name marigold also refers to the pot marigold (genus Calendula) and unrelated plants of several families. African marigold (T. erecta), French marigold (T. patula), and several other species are grown as garden ornamentals, although most species have strong-scented leaves. Members of the genus Tagetes have attractive yellow, orange, or red flowers that are solitary or clustered; leaves opposite each other on the stem that usually are finely cut; and bracts (leaflike structures) that form a cup-shaped base below each flower head.