Marigolds make lively show

Press, 26 November 1982, Page 14

Marigolds make lively show

African and French marigolds are two of the most reliable ’ and colourful annuals grown for spring-through-autumn bedding, and cut flowers. Although the specific common names are suggestive of their country of origin this is mis-leading as both marigolds originate from Mexico. While the two common names have been in use for more than 400 years, there have been others, all of which.included the name of a country. ' And although African marigolds have been derived from Tagetes erecta, and French marigolds from T.patula, two distinct species, early authors treated them as one. Tagetes erecta was brought back to Spain by the

early explorers of the New World in the latter part of the fifteenth century or early years of the sixteenth century whence -it quickly spread through southern Europe. When Charles V invaded Algeria to free Tunis from the Moors, this plant was found on the sand dunes and

aiong the coast. It seems to have come to England and the Low Countries at about this time, probably brought back by the crusaders. The English names for these plants at this time were African Marigold, Greater African Marigold and Marigold of Tunis. One publication of the sixteenth century used the names Floure of India and Floure of the Indies. A herbalist of the time added others including Guillofloure of India (Guillofloure was -old French for July flower and usually referred to Carnation). Tagetes patula came to England (via Spain) with the French Huguenot refugees about 1572. The early herbalists con-

sidered it to be a smaller form of African Marigold so in addition to French Marigold the name * Lesser African Marigold was also used. Then there were those who gave it an Asiatic origin, with observations of Japanese and'Chinese cultivation (Marigold of China).. Two writers used, amongst other names, that of Tansy of Peru, although it is not always clear to which of the two they referred, particularly as they both considered them as forms of the same plant. ' In spite of, or perhaps because of, all the confusion and name changing, the first English names are still in full use today.

GARDENING

by

rM.Lusty