About Tagetes tenuifolia Cav.
Tagetes tenuifolia Cav. is an annual herb that can grow up to 50 cm (20 inches) tall. Its leaves are less than 3 cm (1 1/4 inches) long and deeply divided into many small segments. The plant produces numerous small bright yellow flower heads arranged in a flat-topped cluster; each individual head contains five ray florets and 7 to 9 disc florets. This species is widely distributed across most of Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and Peru. In traditional medicine, a decoction of the whole plant has been used to treat snakebites in Mexico, while Peruvian traditional medicine uses the plant's leaves to treat bruises. It has also been used to treat symptoms related to stomach complaints, including indigestion, constipation, and infant diarrhea.
