C *5°-] 



Tagetes Patula. Spreading Tagetes, 



or French Marigold. 



Clajs and Order. 

 Syngenesia Polygamia Superflua. 



Generic Character. 

 Receptaculum nudum. Pappus ariftis 5 ereclis. Cal. l-phyllus, 

 5-dentatus, tubulofus. Flofculi radii 4-8, perfiftentes. 



Specific Character and Synonyms. 

 TAGETES patula caule fubdivifo patulo. Linn. Syfi. Vcg. 



ed. 14. Murr. 228. 

 TANACETUM Africanum f Flos Africanus minor. Baub. 



Pin. 132. 

 FLOS Africanus. Dod. Pempt. 255. 

 The (mall (ingle French Marigold. Park. Par. p. 304. 



For richnefs and variety of tints few flowers can vie with 

 this fpecies of Tagetes, which forms one of the chief orna- 

 ments of our gardens at the clofe of fummer. 



Some authors make it a native of Africa, others of America. 

 Two principal varieties are ufually kept in the gardens, the 

 common fmall fort with a ftrongdifagreeable fmell, and a large* 

 one here figured, ufually called fweet-fcented, the former i* 

 of more humble growth, its branches more fpreading, Ml 

 bloffoms fmaller than thofe of the latter, the flowers of which 

 have ufually a greater portion of the yellow tint, and the fmell 

 of the other fo modified as to be far lefs difagreeable ; fweet- 

 fcented we fear it can fcarcely be called : from the feed of 

 both forts fome flowers will be produced extremely double, 

 and others fingle. 



Miller recommends the feed to be frequently changed 

 to prevent them from degenerating. 



It U one of our tender annuals which require to be raifed 

 on a gentle hot-bed, if we are defirous of having them 

 early ; if that be not an objett, they may be fown under a 

 common hand-glafs on a warm border the beginning of Mty 

 and, when large enough, planted out in the flower-beds, 

 where they are to remain. 



Dodon^us obferves, that the leaves, if held up to the 

 light, appear as if perforated j and he adduces fome inftances* 

 which prove the plant to be of a poifonous nature. 



