Tagetes patula L., Asteraceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Tagetes lunulata Ortega

Common name(s): [more details]

English: French marigold, stinkweed, wild marigold

Maori (Cook Islands): merīkō, merīkōro, mērīkōro, mērīkōro

Spanish: amapola amarilla, copetes, copetillo

Tongarevan (spoken): melikō

Tongarevan (written): merikō

Habit:  herb

Description:  "The root is a taproot and the stem is erect, branched and 25 to 200 centimeters tall.  The lower leaves are opposite and the upper leaves are alternate.  They are ovate-lanceolate, velvety and have serrated margins.   The inflorescence is a tubular flower head with yellow flowers.  The fruit is a black achene"  (Cardenas et al., 1972; p. 137).

Habitat/ecology:  "Annual, foul smelling, herbaceous plant found in cultivated fields, perennial crops, pastures and roadsides"  (Cardenas et al., 1972; p. 137).

Propagation:  Seed (Cardenas et al., 1972; p. 137).

Native range:  Mexico and Nicaragua, cultivated and naturalized elsewhere (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 Northern Cook Islands	Penrhyn (Tongareva) Island	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2008)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2008)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2008)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Satawan Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 291) Identification listed as questionable.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Faraulep (Faraulap) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 291) Identification listed as questionable.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island		Bishop Museum (U.S.A. Hawaii. Honolulu.) (1994) (voucher ID: BISH 635896) Taxon name on voucher: Tagetes patula L.
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Lifou	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (pp. 38-39) Voucher cited: Bergeret 41 Spontané
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (pp. 38-39) Vouchers cited: Baumann 6801, MacKee 28349 Spontané
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (pp. 38-39) Voucher cited: Baumann 13899
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Island	introduced	St. John, H. (1987) (p. 54) Voucher cited: Fosberg & R. Clark 11258

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Colombia Colombia	Colombia (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 358)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 290) "Waste places, garden escape".
Nicaragua Nicaragua	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2009)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	D'Arros Island		Stoddart, D. R./Coe, M. J./Fosberg, F. R. (1979) (p. 25)

Additional information:
Additional online information about Tagetes patula is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Tagetes patula as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Tagetes patula may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

Other Latin names:  Tagetes lunulata Ortega

References:

Bishop Museum (U.S.A. Hawaii. Honolulu.). 1994. Voucher specimen #BISH635896(Staples, G.W. 920).

Cardenas, Juan/Reys, Carlos E./Doll, Jerry D./Pardo, Fernando. 1972. Tropical weeds; malezas tropicales, vol. 1. International Plant Protection Center, Oregon State University, Corvallis. 341 pp.

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce. 1979. A geographical checklist of the Micronesian dicotyledonae. Micronesica 15:1-295.

Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. 1979. A geographical atlas of world weeds. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 391 pp.

MacKee, H. S. 1994. Catalogue des plantes introduites et cultivées en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 164 p.

McCormack, Gerald. 2008. Cook Islands Biodiversity Database, Version 2007.2. Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga.

St. John, H. 1987. An account of the flora of Pitcairn Island with new Pandanus species. Honolulu, 65 pp.

Stoddart, D. R./Coe, M. J./Fosberg, F. R. 1979. D'Arros and St. Joseph, Amirante Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 223. The Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 48 pp.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2009. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. 1988. Flora of New Zealand, Volume IV: Naturalised pteridophytes, gymnosperms, dicotyledons. Botany Division, DSIR, Christchurch. 1365 pp.