Tagetes erecta L., Asteraceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

Chuukese: peerang

English: African marigold, Aztec marigold, French marigold, big marigold, marigold, saffron marigold

French: tagète rose d'Inde

I-Kiribati: te merikora

Maori (Cook Islands): mērīkōro, merīkō, merīkōro

Niuean: melikolu

Samoan: makerita, sauga

Spanish: arrayosa, flor de muerto, sintzo

Tongan: melekoula

Yapese: puarang

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Erect, glabrous, aromatic annual, up to c. 60 cm tall.  Stems much-branched or sparingly branched.  Leaves 1-pinnate, shortly petiolate; leaflets in 2-4-(8) pairs, narrow-elliptic to lanceolate, 1-4-(5) cm long, with 2-10-(20) teeth on each side, and scattered, large, sessile glands on both surfaces.  Upper cauline leaves smaller than lower, with fewer, narrower leaflets and fewer leaflet teeth.  Capitula c. 4-6 cm diameter, solitary; peduncles fistular.  Involucre campanulate, (12)-15-20 x (6)-8-18 mm, with 5-7 short teeth at apex; glands long, many, ± evenly distributed above and below.  Ray florets 8-numerous; ligules pale yellow to bright orange, 10-30 mm long.  Disc florets numerous, yellow or orange, or many or all transformed into ligulate florets.  Achenes 3-4-angled, dark brown or black, moderately clothed in short antrorse hairs especially on angles, c. 10-11 x 1-1.3 mm; pappus scales fused toward base, the longest c. 11-12 mm and with minute marginal antrorse hairs"  (Webb et al., 1988; pp. 289-290).

Habitat/ecology:  On Niue, "growing in a semi-adventive state in the villages, but the species is rare." Tagetes patula L. also present (Sykes, 1970; p. 68).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Mexico and Central America (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Floreana Group	Floreana Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Isabela Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcán Sierra Negra, Isabela Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Puluwat (Pwonowót) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Manner, H. I./Mallon, E. (1989) (p. 61) Voucher cited: Manner & Mallon 227 (GUAM)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy (2010) (p. 13)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Faraulep (Faraulap) Atoll		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Lamotrek Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 291)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Satawal Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Ulithi Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 291)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (p. 291) Voucher cited: DA 12395
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced cultivated	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 582)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 291)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Kennedy, Barbara H./James, Shelley A./Imada, Clyde T. (2010) (p. 20) Voucher cited: S. A. James 2008-1 (BISH)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Ailinglaplap (Ailinglapalap) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 291)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Jaluit (Jãlwõj) Atoll		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kili (Kõle) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Vander Velde, Nancy/Vander Velde, Brian (2006) (p. 6) "Uncommon; planted ornmental around a few houses".
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Whistler, W. A./Steele, O. (1999) (p. 99)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Namorik (Namdik) Atoll		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Vander Velde, Nancy (2003) (p. 72)
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced cultivated	Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. (1994) (p. 101)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 38) Vouchers cited: Baumann 5476, MacKee 46214 Spontané
New Zealand (offshore islands) Kermadec Islands	Raoul Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1977) (p. 97)
New Zealand (offshore islands) Kermadec Islands	Raoul Island	introduced invasive	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (pp. 289-290) "Persistent discard or casual".
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 68) Voucher cited: CHR 170424 Naturalizes
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (p. 119) "Occasional as an escape along roadsides".
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced	Raulerson, L./Rinehart, A. F./Falanruw, M. C. (1996) (p. 25)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 291)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced cultivated	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 614) Cultivated for ornamental purposes.
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced cultivated	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 112)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 288) Ornamental.
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive cultivated	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (pp. 289-290) "Persistent discard or casual".
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)		U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced cultivated	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 129)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Comments:  Occasional escape from cultivation in New Zealand; commonly naturalised in the Pacific islands (Webb et al., 1988; pp. 289-290). Reported as possibly an invasive plant in the Galápagos Islands per Charles Darwin Research Station.

Control:  If you know of control methods for Tagetes erecta, please let us know.