104 Phytologia (Aug 2004) 86(2) 



TAGETES ERECTA (ASTERACEAE), A NEW ESCAPE TO THE 

 FLORA OF TEXAS 



Eric L. Keith 



Raven Environmental Services, P.O. Box 6482, Huntsville, Texas 

 77342, U.S.A. eric.keith@excite.com 



ABSTRACT 



Tagetes erecta, known under several common names including 

 common or Aztec marigold, is reported as escaped from cultivation in 

 Texas for the first time. 



KEYWORDS: Tagetes, Asteraceae. 



Tagetes erecta L., common or Aztec marigold, has been reported 

 as escaped from cultivation in several states to the east and west of 

 Texas including the adjacent states Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana 

 (Cronquist 1980, Gandhi and Thomas 1989, Nature Serve 2004, Radford 

 et. al. 1968, USDA2004). Until now, the species has never been reported 

 escaped in Texas (Correll and Johnston 1970, Hatch et. al. 1990, Jones 

 et. al. 1997, Kartesz and Mecham 1999, Nesom and Brown 1998, Slona- 

 Nelson 1996, Turner et. al. 2002). Approximately 20 plants were found 

 on black clayey soil in a weedy lot recently cleared for construction. The 

 flowers were in shades of both orange and yellow. These plants may 

 be the result of direct seeding or contaminants in grass seeds. However, 

 no other unusual weedy or commonly cultivated species were detected 

 in the area. A key to the commonly escaped species of Tagetes can be 

 found in Cronquist (1980), Gandhi and Thomas (1989), and Radford et. 

 al. (1968). 



Voucher specimen: Walker Co.: clayey disturbed area ca. 100 m, 

 W of the corner of Hwy 75 and 10 ,h St., 28 May 2004, Keith 701 (SBSC, 

 SHST). 



