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Common Name: Muster-John-Henry

General Information

Tagetes minuta is an annual plant that can grow up to 1.20 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

This species has an irritant sap that can cause dermatitis in sensitive people[].

Botanical References

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Range

S. America. Naturalized in S. Europe[].

Habitat

Waste places and cultivated ground in S. Europe[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	1.20 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a well-drained moderately fertile soil in a sunny position[]. Grows well in heavy clay soils and in sandy soils[].
Plants are not very resistant to frosts and need to be grown as half hardy annuals. They also need a long growing season, usually flowering too late in the autumn to set seed in Britain[].
Removing dead flowers before the seed is formed will extend the flowering season[].
A very good companion plant, see 'Other Uses' below for more details[].
Plants are prone to slugs, snails and botrytis[].

Edible Uses

The dried leaves are used as an aromatic seasoning for soups and vegetables[]. They give an apple-like flavour[].
An essential oil obtained from the distilled plant, harvested when in flower, is used as a flavouring in ice cream, baked goods, soft drinks etc[, ].

Medicinal

The whole plant is anthelmintic, antispasmodic, aromatic, diaphoretic, diuretic, purgative and stomachic[, ]. It is used internally in the treatment of gastritis, indigestion and internal worms[]. Externally, it is used to treat haemorrhoids and skin infections[]. The plant is harvested when in flower and dried for later use[].

Other Uses

This plant is widely used in companion planting schemes[]. Secretions from the roots of growing plants have an insecticidal effect on the soil, effective against nematodes and to some extent against keeled slugs. These secretions are produced about 3 - 4 months after sowing[]. These root secretions also have a herbicidal effect, inhibiting the growth of certain plants growing nearby. It has been found effective against perennial weeds such as Ranunculus ficaria (Celandine), Aegopodium podagraria Ground elder), Glechoma hederacea (Ground ivy), Agropyron repens (Couch grass) and Convolvulus arvensis (Field bindweed)[, ].
An essential oil distilled from the leaves and flowering stems, harvested when the plant is forming seeds, is used as an insect repellent[, ]. It is also used in perfumery[].
Dried plants can be hung indoors as an insect repellent[].

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse. Only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts.